Abuja residents applaud Tinubu on travel party cut

John Ado, an Abuja-based public affairs analyst commended the decision of President Tinubu, stating that there was a need for a reduction in the cost of governance as it continues to face poor revenue challenges.

According to him, the decision will help cut down the government’s spending.

“This is a step in the right direction, what we have always called for in government is a reduction in the cost of governance. I commend this move and hope that we will see more of this development,” Ado said.

“We are yet to see the benefits of the recent COP28, why will a country have over 100 delegates sponsored to another country for a conference? It’s time we get it right, only those relevant to such conference should attend.”

President Tinubu who announced the reduction on official travel delegation by about 60 percent, said only 20 personnel will accompany the president on foreign trips.

The vice president is entitled to 5 while for 4 will accompany Ministers and 2 for the heads of MDAs.

Ngelale said the President has also reduced the number of security personnel accompanying the President on visits to any country.

On local trips, only 25 staff will now accompany the President, while 10 have been approved for the Vice President and the office of the First Lady.

“That is one of the things we expect to see in a working government”, Abass Saliu said, in a chat with Businessday.

For him, there was no need for an overblown list of delegations on a trip, especially foreign trips.

“Sponsoring a large crowd on an official trip even signals irresponsibility and wastage of public funds. So for me, I think it is the right decision,” he said.

For Ovie Tega, a lawyer in Abuja, there was a need for proper scrutiny of the government’s spending going forward. With this according to him, the government will have funds to execute meaningful and impact projects across the country.

“Many of the people we see on most government trips are irrelevant to the course the trip is meant to serve and this waste of public funds. So the president has done the right thing,” Tega said.