The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has asked the Federal Government to clarify the penalty that would be meted out to government officials who fail to comply with President Bola Tinubu’s directive on the reduction of the size of the entourage for local and international travel.
In a statement signed by the Director-General of the chamber, Chinyere Almona, the chamber commended the President for the move, describing it as a decisive step to curb excessive travel spending and align with the need for financial prudence in the management of public funds.
It said the reduction in the entourage size was a commendable step toward cost-cutting, and that exercise would result in significant savings vis-à-vis estacodes and duty allowances.
However, the chamber was of the view that there might be resistance from some government officials accustomed to larger entourages, and enforcing compliance could be challenging.
It, therefore, sought “clarification on the sanctions for non-compliance would be essential to ensure effective implementation”.
The statement read in part, “The LCCI is pleased that the government is heeding the incessant calls for the reduction of the cost of governance.
“More importantly, the President’s decision to lead by example via the implementation of these measures will set a precedent for government officials at various levels to follow suit, fostering a culture of fiscal responsibility and accountability.
“The President has set the right tone at the top of a more prudent government and organised private sector expects this to cascade to all levels for it to have a significant impact across board.”
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday slashed the number of officials that will accompany him and other top government officials on any foreign trip.
The measure, according to the presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, is part of “massive cost-cutting measures”.
Speaking while briefing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday, Ngelale said the cost-cutting exercise would affect the entire apparatus of the Federal Government, including the office of the President, vice president and the first lady.
The presidential spokesperson said all heads of agencies were expected to comply strictly with the new directive or risk being penalised, but did not stipulate the penalty for non-compliance to the new directive.
