Federal government agencies have budgeted billions for foreign travels and training this year despite the subsisting embargo on such travels. 

Data from the 2017 proposed budget analysed by Daily Trust shows that over N15 billion has been earmarked for the banned subheads.

These funds were captured in the budgets of the various ministries and agencies under subheads such as “international training and transport (training),” “international travel and transport (training)”and “international travel and transport (others).

On February 5, 2015, the office of the head of service of the federation announced the embargo in a circular “Restrictions on Foreign Trainings and International Travels by Public Servants.”

The circular signed by Mohammed Manga, assistant director media relations on behalf of the then head of service Danladi Kifasi, was a cost-saving measure following the recent development in the international oil market that has affected the revenue stream of government.

The policy which took effect from January 2015, said: “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 said 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, estacode application or any other cost on government is involved.”

Federal workers confirmed to our reporters that the embargo is subsisting. “The embargo was well publicized and effected despite that we workers don’t like it, notwithstanding that not all of us benefit from it. There is no new circular nullifying the embargo order as I am speaking with you now,” one of the bureaucrats said.

The office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) is one of the agencies flaunting this policy. 

Agencies under direct supervision of the SGF have budgeted N200 million for international training, according to the this year’s budget estimates.

Some of the big spenders include foreign affairs ministry (N2.1bn), defence college (N2.8bn), Army (N766m), Navy (N582m), Airforce (N670m), labour and employment (N357m), education (N241m), environment (N200m), budget and national planning (150m), transports (N138m), and EFCC (N154m).

Others are trade and investment (N155m), boundary commission (N118m), presidential air fleet (N1.1bn), NSA (N157m), DSS (N192m), police formations (N204m), accountant general (N58m), information and culture (N68m), DICON (N80m), justice (N88m), women affairs (N100m) and sports (N58m). 

Spokesperson for the head of service, Haruna Imrana Yazid, promised to call back when Daily Trust contacted him for comment but he never did. He neither answered  his calls nor replied to messages sent to his mobile phone.

Daily Trust