The Federal Government has directed ministers, heads of ministries, departments and agencies and other government appointees to obtain prior approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation 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 official, 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 senior government officials and heads of major Federal Government institutions.
The SGF said the government had observed that some appointees continued to embark on foreign trips without the required clearance, despite several existing directives regulating official travel.
“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,” the circular stated.
Akume said the requirement was aimed at promoting accountability, fiscal discipline and effective coordination of government business.
He therefore reaffirmed that all official foreign trips by government appointees must receive prior OSGF approval, except where otherwise provided by law or specific presidential directive.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was directed to include evidence of OSGF approval in requests for official Notes Verbales, diplomatic facilitation and applications for official foreign travel by government appointees.
It was also directed to inform foreign missions and embassies in Nigeria that applications for official, diplomatic or service visas by government appointees should, where applicable, be accompanied by the requisite OSGF travel approval.
The Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation was similarly directed to verify compliance during audit exercises. Officials who undertake foreign trips at public expense without the required approval could have the expenditure reported in line with financial regulations and audit procedures.
The circular further directed accounting officers, permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies not to process expenditure relating to official foreign trips unless the requisite approval had been obtained.
The directive takes immediate effect and applies to ministers, permanent secretaries, political appointees, security chiefs, heads of regulatory and anti-corruption agencies, as well as other senior government officials and government-owned institutions.
The measure comes amid controversy surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and its self-styled Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, which has raised concerns over individuals allegedly claiming to represent the Federal Government without clear authorisation.
However, the latest directive does not specifically target the purported council or Adeyemi but establishes a general requirement for government appointees undertaking official foreign engagements.