Cost Of Governance: Presidency Orders Officials To Stay Away From UNGA

President Bola Tinubu has decided to use the upcoming United nations General Assembly meeting in New York, United States, US, as a test case by his administration to reduce the cost of governance.

In this light, President Tinubu has issued an order to federal government officials who have nothing to do, at the meeting coming up next month, to stay away.

Officials with important assignment at UNGA are only permitted to attend the auspicious occasion, Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to The President said on Saturday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

During the just concluded #endbadgovernance protest across the country, protesters had demanded the reduction in the cost of governance as one of their key demands.

The protest lasted 10- days form August 1-10, the magazine reported, before it thinned out due to appeal by well meaning Nigerians, including traditional and religious leaders.

Speaking on the president’s efforts to reduce the cost of governance, Gbajabiamila, who spoke during a retreat for top government officials said the government is trying to use the UNGA to show Tinubu’s seriousness in cutting down expenses, by reducing the number of federal government delegates to the event.

He said, “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.”

The administration had in December 2023 received serious criticism from not a few Nigerians after it sent over 1400 delegates to COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, UAE, costing the nation over N3 billion.