By Emmanuel Obisue
Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, has charged Protocol Officers and those in-charge of International Travel Desks in Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, to thoroughly scrutinize request for international travels and foreign trainings.
She said adherence to travel guidelines would help government save costs.
The HoS who made the call in Abuja on Tuesday during a one-day workshop on Requirements for Processing Request for Approval for International Travels and Foreign Trainings, in Abuja, charged the officers to be diligent in processing such requests, and always ensure to make reference to extant circulars and relevant provisions of the Public Service Rules, PSRs.
Dr Yemi-Esan who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties Office, Engr. Faruk Yusuf, advised that even when international engagements come impromptu, those concerned should, always, inform the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties Office – OHCSF on time.
She added that due to the fact that retrospective approval is not tenable, it should be noted that all requests are processed on merits, as far as it is strategic and exigent to the MDAs’ mandate and budgeted for in the subsisting Appropriation Act.
Earlier in her address, the Director Civil Service Inspectorate Department in the OHCSF, Otelemete Olusanya, said it has been observed over time that Travel Desk Officers, in processing/forwarding requests to the Head of Service of the Federation for approvals, have not been accompanying their requests with the appropriate and necessary documents, thereby making timely processing, difficult.
In their separate presentations, the representative of the Budget Office of the Federation, Nuhu Mahmud, noted that formulation of budget is a priority of every government, adding that no country is able to cater for all of its needs.
Similarly, the representative of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, John Odey, disclosed that the Nigerian government is determined to save cost in the prevailing economic situation, in order to have more funds available for other priority projects.
The workshop was aimed at sensitizing the Desk Officers in MDAs responsible for official travel arrangements to promote cost saving measures in the light of dwindling national resources.
