On Saturday, President Bola Tinubu prohibited public servants without clearly defined positions from attending the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September.
 Ajuri Ngelale, the president’s special adviser on media and publicity, made this announcement on Saturday.
Ngelale claimed that this was in response to a directive issued by President Tinubu on Saturday, which sought to lower the number of Nigerians officially representing the country at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meetings in New York, USA.
He stated that “the President, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, was informed of this directive by the Chief of Staff on Saturday in Abuja during a one-day retreat hosted by the State House management for heads of government agencies under its supervision.”
Speaking to retreat attendees, Gbajabiamila stated that the administration’s resolve to guarantee responsible resource management and lower government costs is evidenced by the choice to reorganize Nigeria’s delegation to the 79th UNGA session in September.
Gbajabiamila hinted at impending policy announcements aimed at ensuring efficient service delivery in government operations while highlighting the necessity for the State House and agencies under its supervision to make sure that their functions are guided by statutes, regulations, policy decisions, and presidential directives.
“I just had a conversation this afternoon with the President. We will witness a test of this policy in the upcoming weeks during UNGA in New York,” he stated.
“During recent protests, there were discussions about reducing the expense of governance. Like in the past, everyone is waiting to see if Nigeria will send the ‘biggest delegation’ to the UN General Assembly.”
 “We know from experience that some people take advantage of these international meetings to conduct personal business.”
“I received a directive from Mr. President that this time we will be severe. If you have no business at the UN General Assembly, do not visit America; this is a command from Mr. President.”
Along with stressing that the President is paying attention to Nigerians’ concerns and will take serious action to resolve them, the Chief of Staff also encouraged heads of agencies attending the retreat to adhere to stringent guidelines.
Regarding the retreat, Hon. Gbajabiamila pointed out that it will make collaboration and coordination between government agencies easier, especially those directly overseen by the State House.
“The purpose is to guarantee coherence as we collaborate to accomplish the goals of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
 “For the government to succeed and for us to meet the expectations of the Nigerian people, coordination is not just a choice, but a necessity,” he noted.
He explained that since governance is a dynamic process that necessitates ongoing modifications, the retreat would be an ongoing activity.
The Chief of Staff further exhorted the chief executives of agencies under its purview and the State House management to set an example by making sure that laws, rules, and other policies aimed at improving governance are followed.
“We have to exhibit outstanding adherence to the Public Procurement Act, the Finance Act, the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act, and other active appropriation acts,” stated Gbajabiamila.
“It is also non-negotiable to comply with the scheme of service guidelines and the rules governing civil service, particularly with regard to hiring, promoting, and obtaining presidential approvals.”
 “Strengthening Institutional Mechanism for Effective Delivery” was the themed one-day retreat.
