FG Establishes e-Travel Desk

President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has approved the establishment of a centralized electronic travel desk in the office of the head of the civil service of the federation to
coordinate the issuance of tickets for official travels in all Ministries, Extra - Ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs),
Under this new arrangement MDAs are to request for tickets through their respective travel desks from the centralised travel desk in the office of the head of the civil service of the federation where all approved official travels will be serviced according to a statement from the office of the Head of Service of the Federation.
In order to ensure a smooth take-off of the centralised travel desk operations, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye has directed that each MDAs should put in place a travel desk that would liaise with the central one.
The statement also said that the MDAs were expected to post nominated officers who have been trained in online electronic Ticketing and Reservation System (eTRS) to man the desk.
This new arrangement is expected to commence on 1st December, 2009 with nine pilot MDAs.  These are the Ministries of Aviation; Transport; Health; Finance; Foreign Affairs; Tourism, Culture and National Orientation; and Commerce and industry. 
Others are the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.  Other MDAs are to join the scheme in phases.