Politics 2014 budget: Jonathan may not reduce Foreign trips- Punch

L

LequteMan

Guest
There are indications that the budget for the President’s foreign trips for 2014 will increase sharply.

This will be contrary to the promise made by the President on the heels of the protest that trailed the fuel subsidy removal in 2012 that his foreign trips would be reduced drastically in 2014.

In 2012, N684.74m was budgeted for Jonathan’s foreign travels while N1.289billion was earmarked for the same purpose in 2013.

“I have directed that overseas travels by all political office-holders, including the President, should be reduced to the barest minimum. The size of delegations on foreign trips will also be drastically reduced; only trips that are absolutely necessary will be approved,” the President had said.

But checks as of press time, Jonathan had jetted out of the country a record 21 times this year.

In all, the President had visited about 19 countries this year alone.

Purposes of such visits ranged from state visits to international summits.

With the frequency at which he has so far traveled this year, it is in doubt whether the President had fulfilled his promise to Nigerians.

The expenses incurred included airfares for members of the President’s delegation, who travelled on commercial flights, cost of procuring travel visas for them, estacodes for members of the delegation, and fuelling of the presidential jets, among others.

Source: Punch

see more at http://www.punchng.com/news/2014-budget-jonathan-may-not-reduce-foreign-trips/

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