Tinubu restricts participation in UNGA79 to authorized officials

By Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

In order to save costs, President Bola Tinubu has ordered that only government officials with direct roles may attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, USA.

This was stated in a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the Chief of Staff to President Femi Gbajabiamila, on Saturday in Abuja during a one-day retreat organised by the State House administration for heads of government agencies under its control.

Addressing participants at the retreat, which had the theme of “Strengthening institutional mechanisms to ensure effective implementation”, Gbajabiamila said the decision to streamline Nigeria’s delegation to the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September was part of the government’s commitment to ensure prudent management of resources and reduce the cost of governance.

He stressed that the State House and its subordinate agencies must ensure that their functions are governed by laws, regulations, policy decisions and presidential directives, referring to upcoming policy announcements aimed at efficient service delivery in government operations.

“I just spoke with the President this afternoon. In the next few weeks we will see a test of this policy during the UN General Assembly in New York.

“During the recent protests, there was talk of cutting government costs. Everyone is waiting to see if Nigeria will send the 'largest delegation' to UNGA as it has done in the past.

“We know from experience that some people use the opportunity of such international meetings to pursue their personal business.

“I have received instructions from the President that we will be strict this time. If you have no business in the UN General Assembly, do not enter America. This is an instruction from the President,” he said.

The Chief of Staff urged the heads of agencies at the closed meeting to strictly adhere to the rules, adding that the President is listening to the concerns of Nigerians and is determined to address them conscientiously.

At the retreat, Gbajabiamila pointed out that this would facilitate cooperation and coordination between government agencies, especially those under the direct supervision of the State House.

“The idea is to ensure coherence as we work together to achieve the goals of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Coordination is not just a choice but a necessity for the success of the government and for us to meet the expectations of the Nigerian people,” he said.

Gbajabiamila said the disengagement would be a continuous exercise as governance was an evolving process that required regular adjustments.

The Chief of Staff also urged the State House leadership and the executive directors of the agencies under their command to set a good example and ensure compliance with statutes, laws, regulations and various policies aimed at improving governance.

“We must demonstrate excellence in compliance with the Public Procurement Act, the Nigerian Financial Reporting Council Act, the Finance Act and various applicable budget laws.

“Compliance with civil service regulations and rostering policies, particularly with regard to recruitment, promotion and presidential approval, is also non-negotiable,” Gbajabiamila said.