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 also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make evidence of valid OSGF approval a mandatory requirement for processing official travel documents, including diplomatic and service visas for government appointees.
The directive was contained in a circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and addressed to ministers, heads of MDAs and other senior government officials.
The development comes amid increased scrutiny of individuals and organisations claiming to represent the Federal Government, particularly following the controversy surrounding the self-styled Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi.
The controversy has raised concerns over how individuals claiming official status could undertake domestic and international engagements in the name of the Federal Government without clear evidence of authorisation.
However, the latest directive applies broadly to all 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,” the SGF expressed concern over continued violations of existing rules governing official foreign travel.
Akume said some government appointees had continued to embark on official foreign trips without obtaining the required clearance from the OSGF, despite several previous directives regulating such travels.
He noted that the measures were designed to promote accountability, fiscal discipline, transparency and effective coordination of government business.
The SGF referenced several previous circulars, including guidelines issued in 2023, 2018, 2017, 2015 and 2012, all aimed at regulating official foreign trips and controlling expenditure by ministers and other senior public officials.
Despite the existing regulations, Akume said cases of non-compliance had persisted.
According to him, such practices undermine efforts to ensure proper coordination, accountability, transparency, prudent management of public resources and effective monitoring of official foreign engagements undertaken on behalf of the Federal Government.
The government therefore reaffirmed that all official foreign trips by Federal Government appointees must receive prior approval from the OSGF, except where otherwise provided by law or through a specific presidential directive.
As part of the new measures, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been instructed to require evidence of valid OSGF approval before processing official travel-related requests.
The circular specifically directed the ministry to make the approval a mandatory requirement for official Notes Verbales, diplomatic facilitation and other applications relating to official foreign travel by government appointees.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was also directed to communicate the new requirement to foreign missions and embassies operating in Nigeria.
The Federal Government said the measure was aimed at strengthening compliance, improving coordination of official foreign engagements and ensuring prudent management of public resources.
