Presidency directs ministers to surrender official vehicles

With only two days remaining in President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year regime and the imminent handover of power to President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on May 29, the Presidency has announced that ministers will not be permitted to retain their official vehicles upon leaving office.

Telescope.ng gathered that instead, they will receive severance benefits in accordance with the guidelines set by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

The directive also applies to President Buhari and Vice-President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), who will leave behind their armoured luxury vehicles for their respective successors, Tinubu and his deputy, Kashim Shettima.

In an interview with The Punch, Mallam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, clarified the decision, highlighting the common practice of government officials taking official vehicles with them upon leaving office. However, he emphasized that this would not be the case for the ministers, Buhari, or Osinbajo.

Shehu stated: “Currently, nobody is entitled to official cars. They use project vehicles which can only be auctioned and sold after four years of usage, as prescribed by the law. So, do not expect ministers to take their vehicles under Buhari. It is not going to happen. If the ministers are not taking their vehicles, you can’t expect the president to take any. It’s simply not going to happen.”

He further explained that there are existing laws that provide a certain number of vehicles at specific intervals for former presidents and their deputies, making it unnecessary for them to retain government vehicles.

Shehu assured that the President will not place himself above his predecessors and will adhere to the established guidelines by supplying the designated number of vehicles to all former Heads of State when due.

The decision aims to address the common practice of government officials profiting from or misusing official vehicles, ensuring adherence to regulations and promoting accountability in public service.