The Federal Government has directed ministers, permanent secretaries, heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), and other political appointees to obtain prior approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) before embarking on official trips outside Nigeria.
The directive is contained in a circular dated August 13, 2026, and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
Under the new directive, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is required to demand evidence of OSGF approval before processing official travel documentation, including official, diplomatic and service visas for government officials.
The Federal Government said the measure was necessitated by repeated instances of officials travelling abroad on official assignments without obtaining the required clearance.
The circular noted that some federal government appointees had continued to embark on official foreign trips without prior approval from the OSGF, contrary to existing government directives and administrative procedures governing official travels outside the country.
It recalled that several government circulars had previously established guidelines for official foreign trips, particularly to control expenditure, improve coordination and ensure prudent management of public resources.
The SGF, however, expressed concern that despite the existing directives, cases of non-compliance had persisted.
According to the circular, unauthorised foreign trips undermine government efforts to ensure proper coordination, accountability, transparency, prudent management of public resources and effective monitoring of official engagements outside the country.
Consequently, all official foreign trips by government appointees are now required to obtain prior OSGF approval, except where existing laws or specific presidential directives provide otherwise.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also been directed to communicate the new requirement to foreign missions and embassies operating in Nigeria.
The circular further directed the ministry to make evidence of valid OSGF approval, where applicable, a mandatory requirement for processing requests for official Notes Verbales, diplomatic facilitation and applications relating to official foreign travel by government appointees.
The Auditor-General for the Federation is also expected to monitor compliance as part of its audit responsibilities.
Officials who embark on foreign trips funded with public resources may be required to provide evidence that the trips received the necessary approval.
The government further warned that expenditure incurred on unauthorised foreign trips would be subjected to financial and audit scrutiny.
Accounting officers, permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies were consequently directed not to approve expenses associated with official foreign trips unless the required OSGF clearance had been obtained.
The directive comes amid increased scrutiny of individuals and groups claiming official links with the Federal Government, particularly following controversy surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
However, the latest circular applies generally to federal government appointees and does not specifically target the organisation or any individual.
The measure is expected to strengthen government oversight of official foreign engagements, improve accountability in the use of public funds and enable foreign missions to verify whether officials travelling on behalf of the Federal Government have obtained the required approval.
The directive takes immediate effect, with all affected officials and government institutions ordered to comply.
