Ministries Rack Up Hefty Travel Costs
From July to September 2024, ministries and agencies under President Bola Tinubu’s administration spent N1.8bn on travel and allowances. GovSpend data revealed that ministries spent significant amounts despite the president’s earlier efforts to reduce government expenditure on foreign travel.
Breakdown of Expenditure
The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy spent the most, totalling N322m. The Ministry of Finance followed, spending N187.2m. The ICPC allocated N150m, while the Ministry of Petroleum Resources spent N108m. These ministries incurred these expenses on foreign trips and allowances over three months.
Previous Ban on Publicly Funded Trips
Earlier in March 2024, President Bola Tinubu had placed a three-month ban on publicly funded trips by ministers and heads of government agencies, citing the need to cut down on rising travel expenses. The government lifted the ban in July to ensure that ministers focused on their core duties rather than foreign engagements. However, the sharp rise in travel expenses since the end of the ban has raised questions about the efficacy of such cost-cutting measures.
Civil Society Raises Concerns
Several civil society organisations have expressed concerns over the high expenditure. Debo Adeniran, Chairman of the Centre for Accountability, criticised the figures as “wasteful” amid Nigeria’s current economic hardships. He questioned why ministries like Women Affairs spent excessively on foreign trips. Adeniran argued these ministries could handle their primary functions locally. He stressed the need for more responsible spending during these challenging economic times.
Calls for Stricter Policies
Civil society leaders are calling for stricter government policies on travel and expenditure. Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre, highlighted the lack of return on investment from these trips, arguing that they have not attracted significant foreign direct investments to Nigeria. He urged the government to review travel policies to ensure they spend public funds in the country’s best interests.
Awaiting Government Response
As public outrage grows over the expenditure, government officials remain largely silent. Attempts to reach officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy were unsuccessful, with no statements issued to justify the high costs. Nigerians continue to await an official response from the government, hoping for more accountability in future spending.
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