Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, has banned top officials of his government from embarking on foreign trips for the rest of 2023.
The governor made the announcement during a meeting of the State Executive Council on Monday, October 23.
The 63-year-old said public servants must learn to make personal sacrifices in the face of the state’s harsh financial situation.
He urged officials to consider the application of virtual meetings for attendance and participation at international business and investment events.
“Foreign trips for top officials for the rest of the year is hereby suspended unless there is a direct emergency to be authorised by the governor,” he directed.
Monday’s meeting focused on treasury board decisions that affect the executive’s preparation of the 2024 budget. Officials deliberated on budget proposals from the ministries, departments and agencies ahead of the submission of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework to the state’s House of Assembly.
Governor Adeleke cautioned his cabinet that due diligence must be the watchword for the process. He noted that the government should only spend money on the implementation of critical projects across the state.
“We must sustain the momentum of our service delivery by avoiding excessive spending on recurrent and overheads,” he cautioned.
The governor also announced he will unveil his administration’s ₦100 billion infrastructure plan on Thursday, October 26. He said the plan covers roads, health, water, housing, and other critical areas to uplift the lives of residents of the state.
