(Report from Office of the Head, Civil Service of the Federation)- Following recent developments in the International oil market which has affected the revenue stream of Government, Government has said that it will introduce a number of cost-saving measures.
In a Circular entitled: “Restrictions on Foreign Trainings and International Travels by Public Servants”, issued from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi said there is embargo on foreign trainings and international travels by public servants in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including all Parastatals beginning from January, 2015.
The Head of Service, who listed in the circular, some guidelines/instructions which shall be applied before any public officer shall travel out of the country on Government expense stated further that “proposals for participation or attendance of international conferences, seminars, workshops, study tours, trainings, presentations of papers, negotiating/signing of memoranda of understating (MOU) abroad, at Government expense, shall no longer be allowed, except those that are fully funded by sponsoring /invitation organizations.”
The circular further states that no Ministry, Extra-Ministerial Office, Department, Agency or Parastatal shall send staff outside Nigeria for training at Government expense, whether or not that Agency draws funds from the Federal Government budget or meets its financial needs from revenue generated by itself.
It says that public servants invited for foreign trainings/study tour or conferences, by any organization, Government or other bilateral/multilateral organization will be allowed to travel, provided that no travel cost, estacode application or any other cost on Government is involved.
The Head of Service said that local trainings will continue, and, where necessary, foreign experts may be invited to conduct trainings for which there are no local experts. He clarified that requests for international travels is essential and strategic cases must be strictly justified with evidence of sources of funding.
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