On Monday the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has suspended with immediate effect foreign travel by government officials from the state for the rest of the year.
Adeleke also instructed that the state expenditure should henceforth be focused on implementation of critical projects across the sectors.
The development was disclosed in a statement signed by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, and made available to newsmen in Osogbo.
The governor while announcing the suspension on foreign trips however hinted that such could be undertaken if there is a direct emergency to be authorised by him.
According to the statement, the decision was reached at the end of the State Executive Council meeting held last Thursday.
“Foreign trips for top officials for the rest of the year is hereby suspended unless there is a direct emergency to be authorized by the Governor.
“The Governor directed the immediate suspension of foreign travels by top officials. He urged application of virtual meetings for attendance and participation at international business and investment events.
“We must sustain the momentum of our service delivery by avoiding excessive spending on recurrent and overheads,” the statement said.
Adeleke called for due diligence on the budget preparation process, reading out key policy directives on the governance of the state.
He also called for personal sacrifice on the part of cabinet members, positing that cabinet members and all members of the administration must demonstrate readiness to sacrifice in the face of the state’s harsh financial situation.
“Our needs from office to accommodation are much but our resources are limited. So we have to devise a coping mechanism pending the time our funding situation will improve,” he stated.
As a way of enforcing efficiency in the governance process, the governor also directed the Head of Service to prepare a memo to streamline the relationship between the Commissioners and Special Advisers.
“While memos by Special Advisers must pass through the Permanent Secretary to the Commissioners, the Commissioners must ensure fair play and accommodating spirit,” the Governor declared in a move to pre-empt possible rivalry among top appointees.
