In an effort to streamline governance expenses, President Bola Tinubu has initiated substantial cuts in official entourages for both domestic and international events by a significant 60 percent.
The President’s directive entails a significant reduction in the number of accompanying personnel during official trips. For local engagements, security details will now be sourced from the host state, a move aimed at optimizing resources.
Announced on Tuesday by Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, these measures dictate a marked reduction in the entourage sizes. Previously numbering over 50 individuals, the President will now travel with only 20 officials, while the Vice President’s entourage will be limited to five. Similarly, the First Lady and the wife of the Vice President will each travel with five officials.
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For local trips, the entourage limits have been scaled down to 25 for the President, 15 for the Vice President, and 10 each for the First Lady and the Vice President’s spouse.
Ngelale said these changes aim to instill fiscal prudence and accountability in resource management. Ministerial foreign delegations will now comprise a maximum of four officials, while heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) will be restricted to a maximum of two officials during international trips.
The President’s directive also includes the reduction of elaborate security entourages during local trips, aiming to curtail excessive duty travel allowance costs.
Ngelale sternly cautioned that any official disregarding these directives would do so at their own risk, underscoring the seriousness of adherence to these cost-saving measures.
A step in the right direction, but is it enough?
President Bola Tinubu’s directive to reduce entourages by a substantial 60% appears as a stride towards curbing extravagant spending. However, while commendable, this measure, taken in isolation, does not effectively address the underlying issue of expensive governance amid Nigeria’s economic predicament. Though in an era where fiscal prudence is the clarion call across nations grappling with economic challenges, the move seems like a step in the right direction.
The ostensible reduction in the number of officials accompanying the President, Vice President, and their spouses on both international and local trips might create an impression of cost-saving. Yet, this singular action, though a start, barely scratches the surface of a larger problem rooted in Nigeria’s governance structure. The reduction in entourage size, while a symbolic gesture, does not significantly dent the expenses incurred by the government machinery in other areas.
Nigeria’s current economic challenges need a more comprehensive approach to cost reduction in governance. While trimming down travel entourages is a visible aspect, there are numerous other avenues where fiscal prudence could yield substantial savings. For instance, the salaries and allowances of political officeholders remain a significant drain on the national coffers. Additionally, there are often redundant or overlapping government agencies that consume substantial resources without yielding commensurate benefits to the populace.
Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have grown significantly over the past decade in the country, creating concerns about government spending amid scarce resources. There have been calls to trim the number of ministers in the nation. Currently, Nigeria has about 48 ministers, and some have intertwined portfolios – gulping millions of naira monthly for recurrent expenditure from the national treasury.
Other countries have set precedents in addressing expensive governance. For instance, Rwanda, in its bid to streamline governance costs, reduced the size of its cabinet and merged several ministries, leading to operational efficiency and considerable cost savings. Similarly, countries like Singapore and New Zealand have actively restructured their public sectors, focusing on merit-based appointments and reorganization to maximize efficiency while reducing unnecessary expenses.
The need for Nigeria to emulate such strategies cannot be overstated. It requires holistic reform across various facets of governance. This includes rationalizing the number of political appointees, merging redundant agencies, and implementing stringent measures to curb excessive spending in all government sectors.
Critics said that while the directive to trim entourages is a positive gesture, it must serve as a stepping stone toward broader, more impactful reforms. Nigeria’s leadership needs to delve deeper, looking beyond mere optics, and address the systemic issues contributing to expensive governance. Experts believe that only through such comprehensive reforms can the nation achieve sustainable cost reduction while enhancing operational efficiency across the government.