The Federal government has introduced stricter controls on official foreign trips by ministers, security chiefs, heads of government agencies and other political appointees, making prior clearance from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) mandatory.
In this new schedule , government appointees will not be permitted to embark on official foreign trips without obtaining the required approval from the OSGF, except where an exemption is provided by law or through a specific presidential directive.
The directive, issued by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, takes immediate effect.
In a 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,” the SGF expressed concern over continued violations of existing rules governing official travels outside Nigeria.
The government said the renewed enforcement was necessary to strengthen accountability, fiscal discipline, transparency and coordination of official government engagements abroad.
The circular noted that several directives had previously been issued to regulate foreign travel by ministers, heads of ministries, departments and agencies, boards, committees and other senior public officials.
Among the directives cited were the September 18, 2023 guidelines on official travels by cabinet members, agency heads and public officials, as well as earlier circulars issued in 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2018 aimed at controlling foreign trips and reducing unnecessary government expenditure.
Despite these measures, the SGF said non-compliance had continued.
The government warned that unauthorised foreign trips could undermine efforts to ensure prudent management of public funds and effective monitoring of official engagements undertaken on behalf of Nigeria.
New role for Foreign Affairs Ministry
As part of the new enforcement mechanism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been directed to demand proof of valid OSGF approval before processing official travel documentation for government appointees.
The ministry is to make evidence of OSGF clearance a mandatory supporting document, where applicable, for requests involving official Notes Verbales, diplomatic facilitation and applications for official, diplomatic or service visas.
The ministry has also been instructed to formally notify foreign missions and embassies accredited to Nigeria of the new requirement.
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.
Auditor-General to track compliance
The Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation has also been empowered to monitor compliance.
Government appointees who undertake official foreign trips at public expense will be required to produce evidence of the requisite OSGF approval during audit exercises.
The directive further places responsibility on accounting officers, permanent secretaries, chief executives and heads of government agencies to ensure that public funds are not released for unauthorised foreign travel.
They have been directed not to process expenditure relating to an official foreign trip until the required OSGF approval has been obtained.
The SGF said the directive was designed to reinforce due process, centralised coordination of government business and prudent management of public resources, in line with existing public service and financial regulations.
Those affected
The directive applies to ministers and ministers of state, permanent secretaries, accounting officers, heads of ministries, departments and agencies, security chiefs, political appointees and senior government officials.
Those specifically addressed include the Chief of Staff to the President, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice President, Nati