By Augustine Ehikioya
The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to all government appointees over continued non-compliance with the requirement for prior approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OSGF, before embarking on official foreign trips.
In a circular dated 13th August 2026 with Ref. No. PRS59648/S.13/TI/335, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, said the trend undermines government efforts to ensure accountability, fiscal discipline and proper coordination of official engagements.
According to the SGF, “It has been observed with concern that some Federal Government Appointees continue to embark on official foreign trips without obtaining prior approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation OSGF, contrary to extant Government directives and established administrative procedures regulating official travels outside the country.”
Akume listed previous circulars issued to check the trend, including the Guidelines for Official Travels by Cabinet Members, Heads of Agencies and Public Officials of September 18, 2023; the Guidelines for Official Trips by Chairmen of Federal Government Committees, Boards of Corporations and Government-Owned Companies of March 31, 2015; the Additional Cost Control Measures to Guide Foreign Trips by Ministers and Senior Government Officials of September 27, 2017; a circular on Observed Indifferent Adherence to Extant Regulations Guiding the Conduct of Foreign Trips by Public Officials dated March 8, 2018; and the Further Cost-Cutting Measures and Fiscal Prudence on Travel by Cabinet Members circular of November 20, 2012.
Despite these directives, he noted that instances of non-compliance continue to be recorded, stressing that the 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.
The SGF declared that all official foreign trips undertaken by Federal Government appointees shall continue to require prior approval from the OSGF before such trips are undertaken, except where otherwise expressly provided by law or by specific Presidential directive.
According to him, the 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, and the Financial Regulations, Revised Edition, January 2009.
To strengthen compliance, the circular directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to include evidence of valid OSGF approval 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.
