FREE TRANSPORT FACILITIES

SECTION 1 - DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL

SECTION 2 – FREE TRANSPORT FACILITIES AVAILABLE

SECTION 3 - MISCELLANEOUS RULES REGARDING FREE TRANSPORT FACILITIES

SECTION 1 - DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL

Definitions

15101 - In this Chapter the following terms are used with the meaning defined in Rule 13101:

END OF TOUR

NIGERIAN DESTINATION

OVERSEAS LEAVE

RESUMPTION/ASSUMPTION OF DUTY

VACATION LEAVE.

The following terms are used with the following meanings:

Cheaper point

Cheaper Point - The term "Cheaper point" means a place which may be substituted for an officer's Nigerian home place as the starting de point or destination of a journey at Government expense, on condition that such substitution results in the transport facilities actually provided in respect of the journey involving neither grater cash disbursement by Government nor more excessive use of Government transport services than would be involved by providing similar facilities from or to the officer's Nigerian home place.

Loads

Loads - The baggage allowance set out in this Chapter are given in terms of carrier "loads". In cases where freight rates are related to weight the load allowances should be converted on the basis that one load weighs 25 kilograms. In cases where freight rates are related to cubic capacity, the load allowances should be converted on the basis that one load occupies 3/25 cubic metres.

GENERAL

ECONOMY IN USE OF TRANSPORT

Necessity for journey

15102 - The necessity for any journey at Government expense should be fully established before the use of transport at Government expenses is authorized.

Choice of route

15103 - a) The type of transport and route authorized for a journey at Government expense must be determined by the cost, the cheapest route in all cases being utilized.

b) Air transport may only be used on journeys which justify its use.

AUTHORITY FOR USE OF TRANSPORT

How given

15104 - Authority for use of transport facilities at Government expense shall be given in writing by Permanent Secretaries/Head of Extra-Ministerial Departments or their authorized representatives in accordance with the provisions of Financial Regulations.

Must be specific and not exceed approved scales

15105 - The free transport facility authorized must not exceed that for which provision is made in these Public Service Rules. If an officer wishes to avail himself of transport facilities in excess of these provided by the Public Service Rules, he must pay for such facilities himself in advance. The Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra- Ministerial Department should ensure that the free transport facilities authorized do not exceed the maximum allowed by these Rules, and also do not exceed those actually required for the journey in question in particular when the facilities include free fare for children the age of each child concerned must be ascertained and specified.

Free transport facilities not transfer- able

15106 - Any officer who utilizes any part of the free transport facilities provided under these Public Service Rules for a purpose other than that for which it is authorized or who, having received a cash payment in advance to defray the cost of such facilities, fails to refund on demand any part thereof not used to defray the cost of the specific facility for which he received it, or who claims payment in arrears in respect of any such facility he has not utilized for the purpose claimed, is guilty of gross misconduct.

Transport of Orderlies or Personal Attendants

15107- No staff may travel at Government expense in the capacity of orderly or personal attendant to another officer unless the employment of an orderly has been authorized by the Bureau of Establishments, Training and Pensions, office of the Head of Service.

Canoe transport

15108 - Canoe transport at Government expense may only be used when no cheaper or quicker means of transport is available.

SECTION 2 - FREE TRANSPORT FACILITIES AVAILABLE

**15201 **- The free transport facilities for which, subject to the principles laid down in Rules 15102 and 15103 officers (including temporary staff) are eligible in respect of journeys in Nigeria (including coastal journeys between Nigerian ports) are set out in Section 2 and 3 of this Chapter, in which;

  1. the family passenger fare allowance is for one wife and four child;
  2. the baggage allowance includes and is not additional to the tariff baggage allowance of a passenger ticket holder;
  3. the baggage allowance for a wife, child or servant only applies when the wife, child or servant actually travels.

TYPES OF JOURNEY

Duty journeys

15202 - For the purpose of transport facilities specified in Rule 15204 the following types of journeys will be regarded as on duty:-

  1. all journeys undertaken in the course of an officer's duty on specific instructions from his Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Department or his representatives;
  2. journeys to obtain dental treatment;

Journeys to new Station

15203 - For the purpose of these Rules Journeys to new station will be deemed to include:

  1. Journeys undertaken when assuming duty on first appointment (i.e. journeys to station from place of engagement or Nigeria home place);
  2. Journeys undertaken when proceeding on transfer (i.e. Journeys from old station to new station)
  3. Journeys to consult Medical Officer: i.e. journeys to and from the nearest Government Medical Officer when an officer is stationed or on leave at a place without medical facilities and his superior officer certifies that in his opinion the officer should consult a doctor;
  4. Journeys to obtain hospital treatment: i.e. journeys to and from hospital when a Government Medical Officer certifies that it is necessary for the officer to leave his station and proceed to the hospital in question for medical treatment;
  5. Journeys undertaken by wives and children of an Officer to obtain dental or hospital treatment and to consult a dental or a Medical Officer as in (b), (c) and (d) above;
  6. Health trips: i.e. journeys by an officer recommended by a Medical Board to leave his station for a change of scene or climate.

Journeys undertaken when proceeding on retirement (in circumstances which render the officer eligible for retirement benefits) or for the purpose of repatriating the family, officer and personal effects of deceased officers; i.e journeys from station to place of original engagement (if so desired) of cheaper point (see definitions), Nigerian home place, Nigerian destination of final leave, whichever is appropriate, provided such, concession is utilized within six months of the date of retirement or of the death of the officer.

Free transport facilities available for duty journeys

15204 - For the journeys specified in Rules 15202, the following free transport facilities are available

  1. For Journeys by Air; Air tickets for the officer, one spouse and four children of the following class of travel:
  2. First class for commissioners, Permanent Secretaries and above.
  3. Business class for officers on GL. 16
  4. Economy class for officers on GL 07 – 15
  5. Economy class for spouses and four children when traveling with the officer.
  6. For Journeys by Road or River Transport: Officers on GL. 01 - 06. Either ticket of cash in lieu of tickets at rates laid down from time to time in the appropriate Ministry of Finance circulars.

Transport of motor vehicle and auto- cycle for repair

15205 - An officer, serving at a station where adequate motor repair facilities are not available, for when a motor vehicle is necessary for the proper performance of the duties of his office, may be allowed, on the authority of his Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Department, free transport for his motor vehicle or part thereof to and from the nearest place where such facilities exist, for the purpose of effecting necessary repairs. Normally, this Rule will not apply to motor vehicles requiring ordinary maintenance or servicing but an exception may be made at the discretion of the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Department in cases where it is necessary for a vehicle to receive essential large scale servicing (for example, in the case of a new vehicle after the first 1000 kilometers).

Free transport for motor vehicles

15206 - Subject to the principles laid down in Rule 15102, free transport by train or boat for an officer’s own motor vehicle may be granted by a Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Department when an officer is purchasing a new vehicle. When an officer is assuming duty or is traveling on transfer, or on tour, or duty, transport of his motor vehicle may be allowed by Government if the Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Department is satisfied that:

  1. the vehicle is necessary for the duty; and
  2. the transport of the vehicle is connected with the most economical means of transporting the officer while performing the duty (for example, when it costs Government less to transport the vehicle to those places in the officer's itinerary where he can use it for his own transport than to hire a vehicle at such places for this purpose)

Extra equipment

15301 - When an officer requires to take with him loads which are necessary for the efficient performance of his duties (e.g. office equipment, survey instruments, tents, etc) he may do so at the discretion of his Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Department.

Official documents, etc by air

15302 - When it is necessary for the efficient performance of his duties, an officer travelling on duty by air may take with him at Government expense official documents, papers and office necessities up to a maximum of 10 kilograms in addition to the tariff baggage allowance included in his passenger ticket.

15303 - When proceeding on transfer an officer may be provided with free Government transport in his station between his house and airport, Sea-Port or motor park and vice versa on his arrival at his new station. Where Government transport cannot be provided, the officer may be reimbursed at rates approved by the appropriate Authorities.