The Federal Government has directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies to stop processing expenses for official foreign trips undertaken by government appointees without prior approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The Punch reported that the directive was contained in a circular dated August 13, 2026, and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
The circular, referenced PRS59648/S.13/TI/335, was addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, ministers, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, service chiefs, heads of federal agencies, and chief executives of parastatals and government-owned companies.
The SGF said the government had observed continued violations of existing rules governing official foreign travel by public officials.
According to the circular, “some Federal Government appointees continue to embark on official foreign trips without obtaining prior approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, contrary to extant government directives and established administrative procedures.”
Akume noted that the Federal Government had issued at least five circulars since 2012 to regulate foreign travel by cabinet members and other public officials.
He, however, said continued non-compliance was undermining efforts to promote coordination, accountability, transparency and prudent management of public funds.
Under the new directive, accounting officers, permanent secretaries, chief executive officers and heads of government agencies are required to ensure that expenses linked to official foreign trips are not processed without the necessary OSGF approval.
The circular also directed the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation to demand proof of approval from any government appointee who undertook an official foreign trip at public expense during audit exercises.
“The Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation shall require every government appointee who undertook an official foreign trip at public expense to produce evidence of the requisite OSGF approval during audit exercises.
“Any expenditure incurred in respect of official foreign travel undertaken without the required approval shall be reported appropriately in accordance with extant financial regulations and applicable audit procedures.
“Accounting officers, permanent secretaries, Chief Executive Officers and heads of Federal Government agencies shall ensure that no expenditure relating to official foreign travel by government appointees is processed unless the requisite OSGF approval has first been obtained.
“All ministers, permanent secretaries, accounting officers and heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies are hereby directed to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of this circular,” it partly read.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was also instructed to make evidence of OSGF approval a mandatory requirement when processing Notes Verbales, diplomatic facilitation and visa applications for government appointees travelling abroad.
Similarly, foreign missions and embassies accredited to Nigeria are to be notified that applications for official, diplomatic or service visas by government appointees must be accompanied by valid OSGF travel approval.
