Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, SAN, has urged President Bola Tinubu and state governors to slash their travel entourage to 40 percent, emphasizing the need for additional reductions in light of the current economic challenges.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Falana commended President Tinubu for the initial reduction but stressed the importance of going further.
“It (cutting of entourage) is realistic and if possible the government can go further to reduce the number from 60 to 40 per cent or there about having regards to the state of the economy,” said Falana.
He commended the government’s move to cut costs and pointed out other areas where resources could be saved.
“I once traveled and I was in one of the embassies. I was flabbergasted that Nigeria has been paying rent in an African country for our embassy since 1962, that should not be so. So, the government will have to holistically look at the areas of waste,” he added.
Falana emphasized the need for governors to follow the president’s example and reduce their travel entourage both domestically and internationally.
“For years, we have asked the poor to tighten their belts, it is the government now that should tighten their belts. The budget must be reviewed to reflect the state of the economy. We are starting now to begin to cut down the excesses of government, and I think it’s a good development, but we need to do more,” he added.
President Tinubu had recently directed a 60% slash in travel delegations for all Federal Government official trips, including those of the president, vice president, and first lady.