Tinubu restricts participation in the UNGA to authorized officials

President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive to reduce the size of Nigeria’s official delegation to the upcoming sessions of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, USA.

The directive was announced on Saturday by Femi Gbajabiamila, the President's Chief of Staff, during a one-day retreat organized by the State House leadership for the heads of government agencies under its command.

He explained that the decision to reduce the size of 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 the agencies under its control must ensure that their duties are regulated by laws, regulations, policy decisions and presidential directives.

Gbajabiamila pointed to upcoming policy announcements aimed at ensuring 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.”

He explained that the President had ordered that anyone who had no business in the UN General Assembly should not be allowed to travel to America.

At the closed meeting, the Chief of Staff called on the heads of the agencies to strictly adhere to the instruction.

He added that the President is listening to the concerns of Nigerians and is determined to address them conscientiously.

At the retreat, Gbajabiamila noted that this would facilitate cooperation and coordination among 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 the disengagement would be a continuous exercise as governance is an evolving process that requires regular adjustments.

Gbajabiamila also called on the leadership of State House and the managing directors of the agencies under their command to set a good example.

He said they should 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 rules and rostering policies, particularly with regard to recruitment, promotion and presidential approval, is also non-negotiable.”

The theme of the one-day retreat was “Strengthening institutional mechanisms for effective implementation”.