President Tinubu Goverment Cost Saving Plan Limits Minister’s Convoy, Security.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took a tough stance yesterday on the enforcement of some cost-saving measures.

In a personal memo, he directed that no member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) should have more than three vehicles in a convoy.

None of them is also expected to have more than five security personnel – four policemen and one Directorate of State Service (DSS) operative – attached to him.

Security chiefs are also affected by these decisions.

Heads of military and para-military agencies will collaborate with the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu to determine the suitable reduction in their security detail.

The NSA is mandated to ensure compliance.

These decisions are in line with the government’s position on reduction in the cost of governance.

The presidential directive was made known yesterday by Bayo Ononuga.

The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President said: “President Bola Tinubu has restricted ministers, ministers of state, and heads of agencies of the Federal Government to a maximum of three vehicles in their official convoys.

“No additional vehicles will be assigned to them for movement. The cost-cutting measure was announced today (yesterday) in a statement signed by the President.

“In January, President Tinubu took significant steps to reduce government expenditure by reducing his entourage on foreign trips from 50 to 20 officials. For local trips, he reduced it to 25 officials.

“He similarly reduced the Vice President’s entourage to five officials on foreign trips and 15 for local trips.

“In the directive issued today (yesterday), President Tinubu also ordered all ministers, ministers of state, and heads of agencies to have at most five security personnel attached to them.

“The security team will comprise four police officers and one DSS officer.

“No additional security personnel will be assigned.

“President Tinubu instructed the National Security Adviser to engage with the military, paramilitary and security agencies to determine a suitable reduction in their vehicle and security personnel deployment.

“All affected officials are expected to comply with these new measures immediately, underscoring the urgency and seriousness of these changes.”

Also yesterday, President Tinubu urged the Senate to confirm his seven ministers-designate.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the President’s letter during plenary.

The nominees are Dr Nentawe Yilwatda (Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction), Muhammadu Dingyadi (Labour & Employment), Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu (State Foreign Affairs), and Dr Jumoke Oduwole (Industry, Trade and Investment).

Others are Idi Mukhtar Maiha (Livestock Development), Yusuf Ata (State Housing and Urban Development), and Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad (State Education).

Akpabio referred the nominees to the Committee of Whole for further legislative work as soon as possible.

It was learnt that the nominees may be screened on Wednesday.

One of five ministers discharged on Wednesday, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, who was in charge of Women Affairs, thanked President Tinubu and Nigerians for the opportunity to serve.

She wrote on X: “I write to express my sincere gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It has been an honour and a privilege to contribute to the development of our nation.

“I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for her invaluable guidance and support during my tenure as Minister of Women Affairs.

“Her kindness and encouragement have been instrumental to my success.

“To the people of Nigeria, I am deeply grateful for your unwavering support.

“Your trust and confidence in me have been a constant source of inspiration.

“I remain committed to serving my country and will continue to do my utmost to contribute to its progress and prosperity.”

Ohanenye was one of those who contested for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket along with President Tinubu and others.

Yilwatda, who is the ministerial nominee from Plateau State, visited Senator Simon Lalong.

If confirmed, he will replace Lalong who resigned from FEC to take his Senate seat, which was in contention when he was appointed minister.

Since he left the cabinet to take his Senate seat, Plateau did not have representation in FEC.

Yilwatda appreciated Lalong, leader of APC in the state, for his leadership, which he described as pivotal to his nomination.

Yilwatda said his nomination is a victory for the APC and the people of Plateau who demonstrated enormous confidence and goodwill during the last elections where he contested for governor.

He promised to do his best to serve the nation and ensure that the Renewed Hope Agenda is achieved.

Lalong, in a statement by his spokesman Dr Makut Macham, said the appointment had rejuvenated APC on the Plateau.

A former presidential spokesman, Dr Doyin Okupe, commended President Tinubu’s decision to scrap ‘superfluous ministries’ in his cabinet reshuffle.

He said: “President Tinubu has done the needful by his mid-term rejig of his cabinet.

“Scrapping superfluous ministries is in line with removing waste and making government compact and effective, this is commendable.”