Ademola Adeleke, the Osun state governor, has barred international visits for key officials in his government for the remainder of the year, with exceptions for emergencies, The Nation reports.
To improve efficiency in the governance process, the governor also asked the Head of Service, Leye Aina, to produce a document outlining the relationship between the Commissioners and the Special Advisers.
Adeleke stated that excessive spending on recurrent and overhead expenses must be avoided during a meeting with members of the State Executive Council to deliberate on 2024 budget proposals from ministries, departments, and agencies as a prelude to the submission of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework to the State House of Assembly.
While pushing cabinet members to make personal sacrifices, the governor stated that in light of the state’s dire financial condition, all members of the government must exhibit a willingness to sacrifice.
A statement by the spokesperson to the governor, Olawale Rasheed, obtained in Osogbo on Monday, quoting Adeleke further read in parts, “Foreign trips for top officials for the rest of the year are hereby suspended unless there is a direct emergency to be authorised by the Governor.
“We must sustain the momentum of our service delivery by avoiding excessive spending on recurrent and overheads.
“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.
“While memos by Special Advisers must pass through the Permanent Secretary to the Commissioners, the Commissioners must ensure fair play and an accommodating spirit.”