A recent report has revealed that Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government, alongside the Presidency, spent at least N1.99bn on foreign trips, training, and estacodes in France between May 2023 and September 2024.
This expenditure has raised concerns about government spending and the rising cost of governance.
The findings, based on an analysis of data from GovSpend, a transparency platform by BudgIT, show that the funds covered airfare, hotel accommodation, visa processing, estacodes, training programs, and business meetings. A substantial portion was spent on executive training programs, study trips, and international conferences.
One of the largest single expenses was N626.91m, paid by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta for the training and type rating of 35 cadet pilots in South Africa, France, and Nigeria. The State House also recorded heavy spending on foreign trips, including N149.79m for foreign exchange purchases for the First Lady’s trip to France on April 1, 2024.
Several MDAs incurred significant expenses on overseas trips. The National Merit Award spent N15.5m as an advance payment for course fees for eight participants in a Paris training program from 14 to 20 May 2023. The Centre for Management Development spent N34.3m for six of its officials to attend training in France.
The presidency has justified the frequent foreign trips by President Bola Tinubu, stating that a leader who seeks to bring foreign investments cannot afford to sit back when the harvest is out there. However, opposition parties have faulted the president’s frequent travel abroad, saying he is more interested in globetrotting than addressing pressing issues in the country.
The expenditure of N1.99bn on foreign trips, training, and estacodes in France by MDAs and the Presidency has raised concerns about government spending and the rising cost of governance. As the country grapples with economic challenges, it is essential to ensure transparency and accountability in public spending.
