The Federal Government has introduced fresh measures to tighten control over official foreign travels by ministers, heads of ministries, departments and agencies, directors-general and other government appointees, Politics Nigeria has learnt.
Under the new directive, no Federal Government appointee is permitted to embark on an official foreign trip without obtaining prior approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The directive, contained in a circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, also requires the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make evidence of valid approval from the OSGF a mandatory part of the documentation for processing official foreign travel documents.
This measure covers applications for official, diplomatic and service visas, as well as requests for official Notes Verbales and diplomatic facilitation.
The development is aimed at strengthening accountability, fiscal discipline and centralised coordination of government officials travelling outside Nigeria on official assignments.
In the circular titled, “Non-Compliance by Government Appointees with the Requirement for OSGF Approval for Official Foreign Trips and the Mandatory Inclusion of OSGF Approval in the Processing of Official Visas,” Akume expressed concern that some government appointees had continued to travel abroad without the required clearance.
The SGF said the practice was contrary to existing government directives and administrative procedures regulating official foreign trips.
“It has been observed with concern that 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 (OSGF), contrary to extant government directives and established administrative procedures regulating official travels outside the country,” the circular stated.
Akume recalled that successive administrations had issued several directives governing foreign trips by ministers, agency heads, board members, committee chairmen and other public officials.
Among the regulations cited were the September 18, 2023, guidelines for official travels by cabinet members, heads of agencies and public officials, as well as previous circulars issued in 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2018 to enforce cost control and fiscal prudence on foreign travels.
Despite the existing regulations, the SGF said violations had persisted.
“Despite these directives, instances of non-compliance continue to be recorded,” he stated.
According to him, unauthorised foreign trips could undermine government efforts to ensure proper coordination, transparency, accountability and prudent management of public resources.
The government therefore reaffirmed that all official foreign trips by its appointees must receive prior OSGF approval, except where such trips are expressly authorised by law or a specific presidential directive.
It further stated that the requirement was consistent with the Public Service Rules, the Financial Regulations and other extant government policies governing official travels.
As part of the enforcement mechanism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was directed to demand evidence of OSGF approval before processing requests relating to official foreign travel.
The ministry is also expected to communicate the new requirement to all foreign missions and embassies accredited to Nigeria.
This means applications by Nigerian government appointees for official, diplomatic or service visas will, where applicable, have to be accompanied by duly issued OSGF travel approval.
The government said the measure would provide foreign missions with an additional mechanism for verifying whether officials travelling on behalf of Nigeria had obtained the necessary authorisation.
Politics Nigeria reports that the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation was equally directed to enforce compliance through its audit exercises.
The circular requires government appointees who undertake official foreign trips at public expense to produce evidence of OSGF approval during audits.
It warned that expenditure incurred on unauthorised foreign trips would be subjected to appropriate scrutiny under the Financial Regulations and applicable audit procedures.
Accounting officers, permanent secretaries, chief executive officers and heads of government agencies were also directed to ensure that public funds were not released for official foreign trips unless the required approval had been obtained.
The SGF ordered all ministers, permanent secretaries, accounting officers and heads of ministries, departments and agencies to comply strictly with the directive.
It is understood that the circular takes immediate effect and supersedes any administrative practice inconsistent with its provisions.
The directive comes amid increased scrutiny of individuals and organisations claiming to represent the Federal Government, including controversies over persons undertaking activities in Nigeria’s name without clear evidence of official authorisation.
However, the latest circular applies broadly to Federal Government appointees and is principally focused on enforcing existing rules on official foreign travel, government expenditure and administrative coordination.
It was circulated to a wide range of senior government officials and institutions, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice President, ministers, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, National Security Adviser, presidential advisers, security chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The recipients also include the leadership of major constitutional and regulatory bodies, including the Independent National Electoral Commission, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Permanent secretaries, heads of extra-ministerial departments, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Accountant-General of the Federation, Auditor-General for the Federation and heads of government-owned companies and agencies were equally directed to enforce the policy.
