In a bid to mitigate the impact of declining crude oil price in the global market, the federal government has placed an embargo on all international travels as well as foreign training with immediate effect until further notice.
The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Danladi Kifasi, who disclosed this in a Circular titled “Restrictions on Foreign Trainings and International Travels by Public Servants,” issued to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, said it has become imperative to introduce a number of cost-saving measures following the recent development in the International oil market that has affected the revenue stream of Government.
He categorically listed one of the measures instituted by government in salvaging the situation as the ban 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 used the Circular to outline some guideline to be applied before any Public Officer shall travel out of the country on Government expense explained 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 warned that no Ministry, Extra-Ministerial Office, Department, Agency or Parastatals 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 noted that Public Servants invited for Foreign Trainings/Study Tour, Conferences by any organization, Government or other Bilateral/Multilateral organization will be allowed to travel provided that no travel cost, Estercode application or any other cost on Government is involved.
However maintained that local training will continue, adding that where necessary, foreign experts may be invited to conduct training for which there are no local experts with the knowledge or ability to do such. (Daily Post)
