The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has declared a temporary halt to all public-funded foreign trips by agencies and officials associated with the Ministry.
The minister said that the suspension was in adherence to President Bola Tinubu’s instruction to temporarily suspend publicly-funded overseas trips by ministers and government officials for three months.
It had been earlier reported that President Tinubu placed a three-month temporary ban on public-funded foreign trips by government officials, starting in April.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, who made this known in a circular sent to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), said the reason for the temporary ban is the current economic challenges and the need for responsible fiscal management.
In compliance with the President’s instruction, the Aviation minister instructed all agencies and personnel within the ministry to cease all authorized foreign travels starting from the 21st of March 2024.
Keyamo made this known in an official document dated March 21, 2024, and signed by Dr Emmanuel C. Meribole, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Aviation.
The statement reads, “I am directed to inform you to suspend all foreign trips approved by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development for all Officers in the Ministry and Agencies under Aviation with effect from 21st March 2024. This is in furtherance of a Presidential directive to suspend public-funded trips by government officials at all levels.
“Any Officer who intends to go on any public funded International trip must seek and obtain Presidential approval at least 2 weeks prior to embarking on such trips which must be deemed absolutely necessary.
“All previously given approvals by the Honourable Minister is hereby put on hold from today 21st March 2024. Please, direct all your DFAs not to process any flight tickets and estacodes for now. Please, this is for strict compliance.”
