The Federal Government has directed ministers, heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and other government appointees to obtain prior approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) before embarking on official foreign trips.
The government has also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make evidence of valid OSGF approval a mandatory requirement for processing official travel documents, including official, diplomatic and service visas for government appointees.
The directive was contained in a circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and addressed to top government officials and heads of major Federal Government institutions.
The move comes amid increased scrutiny of individuals and organisations claiming to represent the Federal Government, following controversy surrounding the self-styled Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi.
The controversy has raised questions about how individuals claiming official status could undertake foreign engagements in the name of Nigeria without clear evidence of government authorisation.
However, the latest directive applies broadly to Federal Government appointees.
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 said the government had observed that some officials continued to embark on official foreign trips without obtaining the required clearance.
The SGF recalled several previous government directives regulating official foreign travel by ministers, heads of MDAs, boards, committees and other public officials.
He said the measures were introduced to promote accountability, fiscal discipline and effective coordination of government business.
Among the directives referenced were the September 18, 2023 circular on guidelines for official travels by cabinet members, heads of agencies and public officials; the March 31, 2015 circular on official trips by chairmen of Federal Government committees and boards; and the September 27, 2017 circular on additional cost-control measures for foreign trips by ministers and senior government officials.
The SGF also cited the March 8, 2018 circular on compliance with regulations guiding foreign trips by public officials and the November 20, 2012 directive on further cost-cutting measures and fiscal prudence on travel by cabinet members.
Despite the existing directives, Akume said cases of non-compliance had continued to occur.
He said the practice undermined government efforts to ensure proper coordination, transparency, accountability, prudent management of public resources and effective monitoring of official foreign engagements.
The government consequently reaffirmed that all official foreign trips by Federal Government appointees must receive prior OSGF approval before departure, except where otherwise provided by law or through a specific presidential directive.
The circular noted that the requirement was consistent with the principles of due process, centralised coordination of government business and prudent management of public resources.
As part of measures to enforce compliance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was directed to require evidence of valid OSGF approval when processing requests for official Notes Verbales, diplomatic facilitation and applications relating to official foreign travel by government appointees.
The ministry was also directed to communicate the new requirement to all foreign missions and embassies accredited to Nigeria.
According to the directive, applications for official, diplomatic or service visas by government appointees should, where applicable, be accompanied by duly issued OSGF travel approval.
The measure will give foreign missions an additional mechanism for verifying whether Nigerian officials travelling on official assignments have obtained the necessary government authorisation.
The Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation was also directed to verify compliance during audit exercises.
Government appointees who undertake official foreign trips at public expense will be required to produce evidence of the requisite OSGF approval during audits.
The Federal Government further warned that expenditure incurred on unauthorised foreign trips would be reported in line with existing financial regulations and audit procedures.
Accounting officers, permanent secretaries, chief executive officers and heads of Federal Government agencies were consequently directed to ensure that no public funds are processed for official foreign travel by government appointees without the required OSGF approval.
The SGF directed all ministers, permanent secretaries, accounting officers and heads of MDAs to ensure strict compliance with the circular.
The directive takes immediate effect and supersedes any administrative practice inconsistent with its provisions, without prejudice to existing regulations governing official foreign travel.
