Nigeria's FG Halts Payment for Unauthorised Foreign Trips by Appointees

• 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.
• The directive aims to curb unauthorized foreign trips by government appointees, which undermines the government's efforts to ensure proper coordination, accountability, transparency, and prudent management of public resources.
• The Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation will verify evidence of prior approval from the OSGF during audit exercises, ensuring compliance with extant financial regulations and applicable audit procedures.

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.”

A recent circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has brought attention to a long-standing issue in Nigeria's government: unauthorized foreign trips by appointees. The directive, dated August 13, 2026, aims to curb this practice by mandating prior approval from the Office of the SGF for all official foreign travel. This move is not a new development, as the government has issued similar circulars since 2012 to regulate foreign travel by cabinet members and public officials. However, despite these efforts, instances of non-compliance continue to be recorded, undermining the government's attempts to ensure proper coordination, accountability, transparency, and prudent management of public resources.

The directive is a response to the ongoing issue of unauthorized foreign trips by government appointees. The Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation has been tasked with verifying evidence of prior approval from the OSGF during audit exercises, ensuring that no expenditure incurred in respect of official foreign travel undertaken without required approval is processed. This move highlights the importance of compliance with extant financial regulations and applicable audit procedures. Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been mandated to make evidence of OSGF approval a compulsory requirement when processing Notes Verbales, diplomatic facilitation, and visa applications for government appointees travelling abroad.

The directive may require lawyers advising government appointees to review their clients' past international travel arrangements and ensure compliance with the new requirements. This move is expected to bring about a significant change in the way government officials plan and execute foreign trips, with a focus on transparency and accountability. The directive also underscores the importance of proper coordination and management of public resources, which is essential for the effective governance of Nigeria.

This directive may require lawyers advising government appointees to review their clients' past international travel arrangements and ensure compliance with the new requirements, including obtaining prior OSGF approval.

Source: Original reporting via Punch Newspapers