Tinubu prunes down aides, officials to UNGA in New York

As part of efforts to reduce the cost of governance, President Bola Tinubu has directed the pruning down of the Federal Government’s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, U.S., next week.

He said government officials must start making sacrifices o to reflect the current realities in the country.

Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said in a statement made available to Persecondnews on Monday that the president has also directed that aides and officials not on the protocol lists should be dropped.

The UNGA is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and it is responsible for the UN budget, appointing the non-permanent members of the Security Council, appointing the UN Secretary-General, and making recommendations through resolutions.

The 78th session of the UNGA will open on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.

Ngelale said: “As part of a broader effort to reduce the cost of governance in Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to freeze the processing of visas for all government officials seeking to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly without proof of direct participation in UNGA’s official schedule of activities.

“To prevent any sharp practice in this regard, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria is accordingly guided on official visa processing while Nigeria’s Permanent Mission in New York is further directed to prevent and stop the accreditation of any government official who is not placed on the protocol lists forwarded by the approving authority.

“By this directive of the President, all Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies are mandated to ensure that all officials, who are approved for inclusion in the UNGA delegation, strictly limit the number of aides and associated staff partaking in the event.

“Where excesses or anomalies in this regard are identified, they will be removed during the final verification process.

“The President wishes to affirm that, henceforth, government officials and government expenditure must reflect the prudence and sacrifice being made by well-meaning Nigerians across the nation.”