President Bola Tinubu appears to have violated his recent directive mandating a 60 percent reduction in travel expenses.

Development Diaries reports that on 09 January, the president directed that individuals on his delegations be pegged at 25 for local trips and 20 for international engagements.

Unfortunately, more than 50 individuals travelled with the president to Imo State, southeast Nigeria, to attend the inauguration of Governor Hope Uzodinma for a second and final term.

According to a report by Premium Times, at least 30 additional government officials were organised to fly by commercial aircraft before the president arrived in the state, in addition to the officials who flew with him for the brief engagement.

This further explains why citizens continue to distrust the government and its policies.

Recall that Development Diaries had called on President Tinubu to explain how he planned to implement this directive, especially since the 2024 budget had been signed into law.

If the president of Nigeria can disregard his directive, it goes to suggest a lack of commitment to the principles and policies he has set.

This also creates a situation where citizens would see the president’s actions as hypocritical or inconsistent, which further widens the trust gap and creates a loss of trust and confidence in the leadership.

Furthermore, it undermines the effectiveness of governance and the implementation of policies.

Development Diaries calls on President Tinubu to prioritise accountability and transparency by promptly addressing the breach of protocol. We also call on him to openly acknowledge the deviation from his directive, communicate the reasons behind the decision, and outline corrective measures to ensure future adherence.

Photo source: Presidency Nigeria