President BOLA TINUBU has placed a temporary ban on all publicly funded foreign trips for all Federal Government officials with effect from April 1, 2024.

The suspension was contained in a circular from the State House and addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, GEORGE AKUME, for onward circulation to all the Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs).

The President said the suspension of government officials from foreign trips was part of his administration’s cost reduction, with an intention to make all heads of MDAs focus on effective service delivery, especially with regards to the mandates assigned to them.

The circular also directed all government officials who intend to go on any public-funded international trip to seek and obtain presidential approval at least two weeks prior to embarking on any such trip, which must be deemed absolutely necessary.