Akume Rebukes Ministers, MDAs, Others over Non-compliance with Requirements for Foreign Trips

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has expressed outrage with some members of the cabinet, heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), boards, committees, and other public officials for embarking on official foreign trips without obtaining prior approval from Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). Akume said this was contrary to extant government directives and established administrative procedures regulating official travels outside the country.

He made the observation in a circular with Ref. No. PRS59648/S.13/TI/335, dated August 13, 2026, and addressed to Chief of Staff to the President, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice President, Ministers/Ministers of State, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, National Security Adviser, and Economic Adviser to the President, among others.

He said some of the cabinet members and other federal appointees had habitually discountenanced several circulars issued over the years by the government to regulate official foreign travels, with a view to promoting accountability, fiscal discipline, and effective coordination of government business.

Akume referenced several of the circulars arbitrarily disregarded by political appointees.

They include: Circular Ref. PRS080/ADM/GEN/I dated September 18, 2023 on Guidelines for Official Travels by Cabinet Members, Heads of Agencies and Public Officials; Circular Ref. SGF.6/S.2/X/542 dated March 31 2015 on Guidelines for Official Trips by Chairmen of Federal Government Committees, Boards of Corporations and Government-Owned Companies; Circular Ref. SGF.6/S.2/XI/774 dated September 27, 2017 on Additional Cost Control Measures to Guide Foreign Trips by Ministers and Senior Government Officials.

Others include Circular Ref. SGF.59662/S.7/III dated March 8, 2018 on Observed Indifferent Adherence to Extant Regulations Guiding the Conduct of Foreign Trips by Public Officials; and Circular Ref. SGF/OPO/1/S.3/XII/155 dated November 20, 2012 on Further Cost-Cutting Measures and Fiscal Prudence on Travel by Cabinet Members.

Akume said, “Despite these directives, instances of non-compliance continue to be recorded. This trend undermines government’s 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 of Nigeria.

“Accordingly, all official foreign trips undertaken by Federal Government appointees shall continue to require prior approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation before such trips are undertaken, except where otherwise expressly provided by law or by specific presidential directive.

“This requirement is consistent with the principles of due process, centralized coordination of Government business and prudent management of public resources, as reflected in the Public Service Rules, 2021 Edition, the Financial Regulations (Revised Edition, January 2009) and other extant government directives.”

He issued measures that took immediate effect that will strengthen compliance with the stated requirements.

Akume added that henceforth, Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall now include evidence of valid OSGF approval, where applicable, as a mandatory requirement in the processing of requests for official Notes Verbales, diplomatic facilitation, and all applications relating to official foreign travel by government appointees.

He charged the ministry to formally communicate the requirement to all foreign missions and embassies accredited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, advising that 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.

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

He stated, “Any expenditure incurred in respect of official foreign travel undertaken without the required approval shall be reported appropriately in accordance with extant financial regulations and applicable audit procedures.

“Accounting officers, permanent secretaries, Chief Executive Officers and heads of federal government agencies shall ensure that no expenditure relating to official foreign travel by government appointees is processed unless the requisite OSGF approval has first been obtained.”

He directed all serving ministers, permanent secretaries, accounting officers, and heads of MDAs to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the circular, which, he stressed, took immediate effect and superseded any administrative practice inconsistent with its provisions, without prejudice to existing extant regulations governing official foreign travel.