Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has announced a moratorium on overseas travels for Ministers, heads of departments, government agencies and statutory bodies, as well as provincial administrators.
The announcement On Monday, and is part of a National Executive Council decision made
during its meeting last week.
In that meeting, the NEC also banned the holding of conferences and workshops this year by government departments, statutory bodies and provincial administrations.
Mr O’Neill said tough measures were taken not only to cut costs, but also to ensure ministers and public servants remain focused on the delivery of government policies and programs during this “year of implementation”.
“The government has outlined its policies and priority infrastructure programs and delivered a budget to fund these programs,” the PM said.
“If implemented in line with our strategies, we will achieve our desired goals. This requires all of us to be focused this year, to keep our feet on the ground, cut down on unnecessary travels and meetings and conferences that yield little results.
“We have investigated and established that funds budgeted for essential goods and services have been abused to pay for overseas junkets, meetings and conferences that bring very little or no benefit to anyone,” Mr O’Neill said.
The Prime Minister said the government expects to save about K40 million this year following the moratorium on overseas trips, conferences and workshops.
“Productivity is also seriously affected by unnecessary trips,” he said. Under new guidelines approved by the NEC, Ministers and heads of department or statutory bodies seeking to travel abroad will write to the Prime Minister stating their reasons for travel and to seek his permission.
In that meeting, the NEC also banned the holding of conferences and workshops this year by government departments, statutory bodies and provincial administrations.
Mr O’Neill said tough measures were taken not only to cut costs, but also to ensure ministers and public servants remain focused on the delivery of government policies and programs during this “year of implementation”.
“The government has outlined its policies and priority infrastructure programs and delivered a budget to fund these programs,” the PM said.
“If implemented in line with our strategies, we will achieve our desired goals. This requires all of us to be focused this year, to keep our feet on the ground, cut down on unnecessary travels and meetings and conferences that yield little results.
“We have investigated and established that funds budgeted for essential goods and services have been abused to pay for overseas junkets, meetings and conferences that bring very little or no benefit to anyone,” Mr O’Neill said.
The Prime Minister said the government expects to save about K40 million this year following the moratorium on overseas trips, conferences and workshops.
“Productivity is also seriously affected by unnecessary trips,” he said. Under new guidelines approved by the NEC, Ministers and heads of department or statutory bodies seeking to travel abroad will write to the Prime Minister stating their reasons for travel and to seek his permission.
Any department or statutory body planning to hold or attend a workshop or
conference within the country must also seek the authority of the department of
Prime Minister and National Executive Council.
Any workshop or conference approved will be coordinated by the Ministry of Sports and National Events. “Those who breach this NEC decision and directive will face stiff penalties, including suspension or dismissal,” Mr O’Neill warned. “The NEC has directed the Department of Personnel Management to amend all employment contracts for Heads of Departments, Provincial Administrators and heads of statutory bodies to make non-compliance a “cause” of termination of employment. “The NEC also directed the Minister for Public Service to review the Public Service Act or other associated legislations to ascertain if amendment is required to give effect to this decision,” said Mr O’Neill.
The moratorium became effective last Wednesday, January 9.
Any workshop or conference approved will be coordinated by the Ministry of Sports and National Events. “Those who breach this NEC decision and directive will face stiff penalties, including suspension or dismissal,” Mr O’Neill warned. “The NEC has directed the Department of Personnel Management to amend all employment contracts for Heads of Departments, Provincial Administrators and heads of statutory bodies to make non-compliance a “cause” of termination of employment. “The NEC also directed the Minister for Public Service to review the Public Service Act or other associated legislations to ascertain if amendment is required to give effect to this decision,” said Mr O’Neill.
The moratorium became effective last Wednesday, January 9.
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