In the year 2016, the Goodluck Jonathan administration banned federal ministers from purchasing first class tickets while on official duty.
Culled from thisday publication of 2016 it reads as follows: Last week federal government banned ministers and other top government functionaries from flying first class while going on official trips. It said henceforth, the affected officials were to travel on business class, stressing that the essence is to cut overhead costs. This is cheery news, at least for its symbolic significance for a country whose government is encouraging everyone to tighten their belt.
But there are many other areas that require tightening up on extravagance, where the government needs to introduce the measure. One is the issue of consumables in government offices. There should be a ban on luxury consumables in offices and organisations belonging to the federal government. The states and local governments should take a leaf from the federal government’s book.
Unfortunately our current government officials even to the level of directors now fly first class on all official duty which should be condemned and reversed immediately. The leaders cannot ask Nigerians to live austere lives while they continue in opulence and wastages.
Bola Babarinde
