President Bola Tinubu has instructed that government officials and agency heads without specific responsibilities at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York should refrain from traveling to the U.S.
This directive was announced by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila during a one-day retreat organized by the State House for heads of government agencies on Saturday.
Gbajabiamila explained that streamlining Nigeria’s delegation for the 79th UNGA session in September aligns with the administration’s focus on prudent resource management and reducing governance costs.
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He also emphasized the importance of adhering to statutes, regulations, and presidential directives and hinted at forthcoming policy changes to improve the efficiency of government operations.
”I just discussed with the President this afternoon. In the next few weeks, we are going to see a test of this policy during UNGA in New York.
”During recent protests, there were talks about reduction in cost of governance. Everyone is waiting to see if Nigeria, as in the past, will send the ‘largest delegation’ to UNGA.
”From experience, we know that some individuals use the opportunity of such international meetings to go about their personal businesses.
”I have received a directive from Mr. President that this time, we will be strict. If you have no business at the UN General Assembly, do not step foot in America, and this is a directive from Mr. President,” he said.
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The Chief of Staff urged agency heads at the retreat to adhere strictly to the directive, noting that the President is attentively listening to Nigerian concerns and is committed to addressing them effectively.
He also highlighted that the retreat aims to enhance collaboration and coordination among government agencies, especially those under the State House’s direct supervision.
”The idea is to ensure coherence as we jointly work together to achieve the objectives of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Coordination is not just a choice but a necessity for the government to succeed and for us to meet the expectations of the Nigerian people,” he said.
He mentioned that the retreat will be an ongoing practice, as governance is a dynamic process that demands regular updates.
The Chief of Staff also urged the State House management and agency heads to set an example by strictly adhering to statutes, laws, regulations, and policies aimed at improving governance.
”We must demonstrate excellence in our compliance with the Public Procurement Act, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act, the Finance Act, and various appropriation acts in operation.
”Compliance with the civil service rules and the scheme of service guidelines, especially regarding recruitment, promotion and presidential approvals is also non-negotiable,” Gbajabiamila said.
