President Bola Tinubu has instituted a new directive limiting ministers, ministers of state, and heads of federal agencies to a maximum of three vehicles in their official convoys. This decision comes as part of broader cost-cutting measures aimed at addressing public concerns regarding government expenditures.
The announcement was made by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy. In the statement, it was highlighted that the directive is intended to streamline government operations and reduce unnecessary spending. This follows earlier measures in January, where the President cut the entourage for foreign trips from 50 to 20 officials and local trips from 25 to 15.
Additionally, the directive stipulates that each official will have no more than five security personnel, comprising four police officers and one Department of State Services (DSS) officer. President Tinubu made it clear that no additional security personnel would be assigned, urging compliance with these measures to underscore their urgency.
In light of recent cabinet reshuffles, which involved the removal, appointment, and reassignment of several ministers, the Presidency emphasized that public perception significantly influenced the changes. Following a recent cabinet meeting, it was noted that the administration would soon announce further measures to reduce government expenditures, with a focus on optimizing the resources available for governance.
The reshuffle saw the Ministry of Niger Delta Development renamed as the Ministry of Regional Development, the scrapping of the Ministry of Sports Development, and the merging of the Ministries of Tourism and Arts and Culture into a new entity focused on Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy.
Onanuga elaborated that the decision to dismiss certain ministers was based on a new technological system that allowed Nigerians to assess ministerial performance. The results of these evaluations played a crucial role in shaping the cabinet changes, emphasizing the government’s commitment to accountability.
Furthermore, Onanuga defended the retention of the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, amidst allegations of his ties to banditry, calling such claims unfounded and politically motivated.
The administration is determined to demonstrate its seriousness in reducing the cost of governance while ensuring competent leadership to address Nigeria’s challenges. More details regarding the government’s plans to further cut expenditures are expected to be announced soon.