The federal government has cancelled all training of personnel of ministries, departments and agencies outside the country, as part of efforts to reduce cost of governance.

This is contained in a document analysing the 2014 budget on major focus of government to ensure good governance released by the ministry of finance.

It stated: “From 2014, all training for personnel of MDAs and Parastatals must now take place in Nigeria. Foreign training programmes will only be approved in exceptional cases and will be based on guidelines to be developed by the Head of Service and the Director –General of Budget Office.’’

It said further that foreign travels by government personnel would further be curtailed, adding that the directive would apply to all ministries, departments and agencies of the federal government.

On the issue of pension, it said that a Pension Transition Arrangement Department under a new director general had been setup in 2013.

According to the document, in 2014, this department will now ensure that pensioners still under the old scheme receive their pensions and gratuities.

“In 2014, three electronic platforms – the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the Government Integrated Financial Management Information system (GIFMIS) and the Integrated Payroll and personnel information System (IPPIS) – will be completed,’’ it said, explaining that this was geared towards improving efficiency and transparency in the public finance.