BREAKING: SGF Orders Ministries, Agencies To Enforce Foreign Travel Rules

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has directed ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to ensure strict compliance with existing rules governing official foreign trips by federal government appointees.

The directive was contained in a circular dated August 13, 2026, issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and signed by Senator Akume.

The circular, with reference number PRS59648/S.13/TI/335, said the government had observed that some federal government appointees continued to embark on official foreign trips without obtaining prior approval from the OSGF.

It described the practice as contrary to existing government directives and administrative procedures regulating official travel outside Nigeria.

According to the circular, government has issued several directives over the years to regulate official foreign travels by cabinet members, heads of ministries, departments and agencies, boards, committees and other public officials.

It said the measures were designed to promote accountability, fiscal discipline and effective coordination of government business.

The circular stated that despite the existing directives, instances of non-compliance continued to be recorded, undermining efforts to ensure proper coordination, accountability, transparency, prudent management of public resources and effective monitoring of official foreign engagements.

Akume therefore reiterated that all official foreign trips undertaken by federal government appointees must receive prior approval from the OSGF before the trips are undertaken, except where otherwise expressly provided by law or by specific presidential directive.

As part of measures to strengthen compliance, the SGF directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make evidence of valid OSGF approval, where applicable, a mandatory requirement in processing requests for official foreign travel Notes Verbales, diplomatic facilitation and applications relating to official foreign travel by government appointees.

The ministry was also directed to communicate the requirement to foreign missions and embassies accredited to Nigeria.

According to the circular, applications for Official, Diplomatic or Service Visas by government appointees should, where applicable, be accompanied by duly issued OSGF travel approval as part of the mandatory supporting documentation.

The SGF also directed the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation to require every government appointee who undertook an official foreign trip at public expense to produce evidence of the requisite OSGF approval during audit exercises.

It added that any expenditure incurred in respect of official foreign travel undertaken without the required approval should be reported appropriately in accordance with extant Financial Regulations and applicable audit procedures.

The circular further directed accounting officers, permanent secretaries, chief executive officers and heads of federal government agencies to ensure that no expenditure relating to official foreign travel by government appointees is processed unless the requisite OSGF approval had first been obtained.

“All Honourable Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Accounting Officers and Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies are hereby directed to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of this Circular,” the SGF stated.

The circular takes immediate effect and supersedes any administrative practice inconsistent with its provisions, without prejudice to existing regulations governing official foreign travel.