The Federal Government has moved to tighten control over official travel by political office holders and senior public servants, ordering an immediate halt to the processing of payments for any foreign trip not expressly cleared by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation

In a new directive to the top echelon of the federal bureaucracy, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, warned that ministries, departments and agencies must no longer honour requests for tickets, estacodes or any other expenses linked to overseas trips undertaken without his office’s prior approval

The circular, addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, ministers, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, service chiefs, heads of agencies and chief executives of government-owned companies, laments persistent disregard for long-standing rules governing foreign travel

Despite at least five previous circulars issued since 2012 to rein in the cost and frequency of such trips, the SGF noted that some appointees still travel abroad on official assignments without securing mandatory clearance, undermining efforts to coordinate engagements and safeguard public funds

Akume stressed that the new directive is aimed at enforcing accountability, transparency and prudent management of scarce resources at a time of mounting fiscal pressure on the government

Under the revised regime, accounting officers, permanent secretaries and heads of agencies are personally responsible for ensuring that no payment request related to foreign travel is processed without written evidence of SGF approval

The Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation has been instructed to demand proof of such approval during routine and special audits, and to flag any expenditure on unauthorised trips in line with financial regulations and audit procedures

The circular also extends the compliance chain beyond domestic bureaucracies The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to insist on SGF clearance before issuing Notes Verbales or providing diplomatic facilitation and visa support for travelling appointees

Foreign missions and embassies accredited to Nigeria are to be formally notified that applications for official, diplomatic or service visas from Nigerian government appointees must be accompanied by valid travel approval from the SGF’s office

All ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of MDAs have been directed to enforce the measures strictly, signalling a renewed push by the administration to curb abuse of official travel and close loopholes that enable wasteful spending