While Buhari Stays Abroad, Sirleaf Has Banned All Government Officials From Foreign Travel

Nairametrics| The current controversy surrounding the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari’s continued absence from the country due to medical treatment abroad has once again highlighted the penchant of government officials to travel out at the slightest whim and blame the chronic scarcity of foreign exchange on other Nigerians who do the same.

Perhaps its time for the government to learn lessons from a smaller neighbor in similar economic distress as Nigeria, Liberia. Just today, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf imposed a 60-day travel ban on all government’s officials citing the worsening economic situation as the major reason for her decision.

This ban is to affect all ministers and heads of other government institutions, as well as their deputies and assistants, while only travel considered to be “of utmost imperative” and subject to a one-on-one meeting and approval from the President herself will be allowed.

“Exceptions will only be granted by the President herself following a one-on-one meeting with the official requesting to travel and if it is determined that such travel is of utmost imperative in the national interest.”

This is one of the decisions reached after a review of the economy by the Cabinet and the Economic Management Team set up by the president was carried out.

With the country’s economy suffering strains from the Ebola epidemic and the fall in the mining sector as well as major slump in prices of its major exports of iron ore and rubber, the country has been taking drastic measures to ensure that the incessant fluctuations of the Liberian dollar against the U.S Dollar is curbed.