Cost of governance: Tinubu slashes Ministers, Head of agencies’ convoy to three vehicles

…Gives nod to attachment of five security personnel to each minister

…Directs NSA to coordinate immediate reduction of ministers’ vehicles, security personnel

In a move to reduce the cost of governance, President Bola Tinubu has ordered a drastic reduction in the number of vehicles in ministerial convoys and the number of security personnel attached to ministers, ministers of state, and heads of agencies.

According to a statement on Thursday by the Presidential Spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the President has approved a maximum of three vehicles for official convoys, with no additional vehicles allowed.

Furthermore, each official will be assigned a maximum of five security personnel, comprising four police officers and one Department of State Services officer.

Recall that President Tinubu in early January took steps to reduce government expenditure by reducing his entourage on foreign trips from 50 to 20 officials while reducing his entourage for local trips to 25 officials.

The President ordered that no additional security personnel will be assigned.

He further instructed the National Security Adviser to engage with the military, paramilitary and security agencies to determine a suitable reduction in their vehicle and security personnel deployment.

All affected officials are expected to comply with these new measures immediately, underscoring the urgency and seriousness of these changes.

According to the statement, “President Bola Tinubu has restricted Ministers, Ministers of State, and Heads of Agencies of the Federal Government to a maximum of three vehicles in their official convoys.

“No additional vehicles will be assigned to them for movement. The cost-cutting measure was announced today in a statement signed by the President. 

“In January this year, President Tinubu took significant steps to reduce government expenditure, by reducing his entourage on foreign trips from 50 to 20 officials. For local trips, he reduced it to 25 officials.

“He similarly reduced the Vice President’s entourage to five officials on foreign trips and 15 for local trips.

“President Tinubu also ordered all ministers, ministers of state, and heads of agencies to have at most five security personnel attached to them.

“The security team will comprise four police officers and one Department of State Services (DSS) officer.

“No additional security personnel will be assigned, he ordered.

“President Tinubu instructed the National Security Adviser to engage with the Military, Paramilitary and Security Agencies to determine a suitable reduction in their vehicle and security personnel deployment.

“All affected officials are expected to comply with these new measures immediately, underscoring the urgency and seriousness of these changes.”