Federal Government has directed all government appointees to obtain prior approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) before embarking on official foreign trips.
Gatekeepers News reports that the directive was contained in a circular dated August 13, 2026, signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
According to the circular, the directive is aimed at strengthening accountability, fiscal discipline, transparency and proper coordination of official foreign engagements by government officials.
The government said it had observed that some federal appointees continued to embark on official trips outside the country without obtaining the required approval from the OSGF, contrary to existing government regulations.
It noted that several circulars had previously been issued to regulate foreign travels by ministers, heads of government agencies, board members and other public officials, but instances of non-compliance persisted.
Under the new directive, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is required to make evidence of valid OSGF approval a mandatory requirement when processing requests for official Notes Verbales, diplomatic facilitation and applications relating to official foreign travel by government appointees.
The ministry is also expected to notify foreign missions and embassies accredited to Nigeria that applications for official, diplomatic or service visas by government appointees should, where applicable, include the required OSGF travel approval.
The Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation was similarly directed to require government appointees who undertake official foreign trips at public expense to produce evidence of the requisite approval during audit exercises.
The circular stated that any expenditure incurred on official foreign travel without the required approval would be reported in line with existing financial regulations and audit procedures.
It further directed accounting officers, permanent secretaries, chief executive officers and heads of federal government agencies not to process expenditure relating to official foreign trips unless the required OSGF approval had been obtained.
All ministers, permanent secretaries, accounting officers and heads of ministries, departments and agencies were directed to ensure strict compliance with the new measures.
The circular takes immediate effect and supersedes any administrative practice that is inconsistent with its provisions, while existing regulations governing official foreign travel remain applicable.
