FG halts payment for unauthorised foreign trips by appointees

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The Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to stop processing payments for official foreign trips undertaken by government appointees without prior approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

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The directive was contained in a circular dated August 13, 2026, issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, all ministers, Heads of the Civil Service, service chiefs, heads of federal agencies, and chief executives of parastatals and government-owned companies.

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The circular, with reference number PRS59648/S.13/TI/335, noted that despite existing regulations, “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.”

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According to the document, the government has issued at least five previous circulars since 2012 to regulate foreign travel by cabinet members and public officials, but instances of non-compliance continue to be recorded, a trend it said undermines the government’s efforts to ensure proper coordination, accountability, transparency, and prudent management of public resources.

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The circular directed that 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.

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“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.

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“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.

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“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.

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“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.

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It further mandated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make evidence of OSGF approval a compulsory requirement when processing Notes Verbales, diplomatic facilitation, and visa applications for government appointees travelling abroad.

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Foreign missions and embassies accredited to Nigeria are also to be formally notified that applications for official, diplomatic or service visas by appointees should be accompanied by valid OSGF travel approval.

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