FG Bars Ministers From Foreign Trips Without Approval
The Federal Government has barred ministers, heads of ministries, departments and agencies, and other government appointees from embarking on official foreign trips without obtaining prior approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The new directive requires government officials planning official trips outside Nigeria to secure clearance from the OSGF before making the journey, except in cases where existing laws or a specific presidential directive provide otherwise.
The directive was contained in a circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and circulated to senior government officials and heads of federal institutions.
The government has also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make proof of valid OSGF approval a compulsory requirement when processing official travel documents for government appointees.
The requirement covers official, diplomatic and service visas, as well as other diplomatic arrangements connected to official foreign travel.
The decision follows concerns over repeated cases of federal government officials travelling abroad for official engagements without securing the required clearance.
The SGF noted that several government directives had previously been issued to regulate foreign trips by ministers, agency heads, public officials, chairmen of boards and committees and other senior government representatives.
Despite those earlier instructions, cases of non-compliance have continued to occur.
The government said the approval system is intended to ensure better coordination of official foreign engagements, accountability and proper management of public resources.
Under the new arrangement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will have to confirm that applicable government appointees have obtained OSGF approval before processing requests relating to their official foreign travel.
The ministry has also been directed to notify foreign missions and embassies accredited to Nigeria about the new requirement.
Foreign missions may therefore be expected to request evidence of the necessary approval when processing official, diplomatic or service visa applications involving Nigerian government officials.
The Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation has also been assigned responsibility for monitoring compliance with the directive.
During audit exercises, government officials who travelled abroad using public funds may be required to present proof that their trips were approved by the OSGF.
The government further directed that money spent on official foreign trips carried out without the required approval should be subjected to scrutiny in line with existing financial and audit regulations.
Accounting officers, permanent secretaries, chief executive officers and heads of federal government agencies have also been instructed not to process public expenditure for official foreign travel unless the required clearance has been obtained.
The directive affects a broad range of government officials and institutions, including ministers, ministers of state, permanent secretaries, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the National Security Adviser and presidential advisers and aides.
It also covers the Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, alongside the heads of several regulatory, electoral, financial and anti-corruption institutions.
Among the institutions affected are the Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Civil Service Commission, Police Service Commission, Code of Conduct Bureau, Code of Conduct Tribunal, Federal Character Commission and Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service, Independent National Electoral Commission, National Population Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency are also covered.
Other recipients of the directive include the Clerk of the National Assembly, Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Accountant-General of the Federation, Auditor-General for the Federation and directors-general and chief executives of federal parastatals, agencies and government-owned companies.
The directive comes amid increased scrutiny of individuals and organisations claiming to represent the Federal Government.
The development follows the controversy surrounding Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who has described himself as the Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
The controversy has raised concerns about how people claiming government positions or authority can engage public institutions and foreign organisations without clear proof of government authorisation.
However, the latest directive is not specifically targeted at the purported council or Adeyemi. It applies generally to federal government appointees who undertake official foreign engagements.
By making OSGF approval part of the documentation required for applicable official visa applications, the government is creating another level of verification for officials travelling abroad in an official capacity.
The measure also links approval for foreign trips to the use of public funds, with accounting officers now responsible for ensuring that government money is not spent on unauthorised official travel.
The Federal Government has directed all affected officials and institutions to comply with the directive, which takes immediate effect.
