Fake Agency Scandal: FG Bars Ministers, DGs, Security Chiefs From Foreign Trips Without SGF Approval, Orders Foreign Affairs To Demand OSGF Clearance For Official Visas
The Federal Government has barred ministers, heads of ministries, departments and agencies and other government appointees from embarking on official foreign trips without prior approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The government also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make evidence of valid approval from the OSGF 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, titled “Non-Compliance by Government Appointees with the Requirement for OSGF Approval for Official Foreign Trips and the Mandatory Inclusion of OSGF Approval in the Processing of Official Visas.”
The move comes amid heightened scrutiny following the controversy surrounding the self-styled Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, which raised questions about how individuals claiming official status can undertake engagements in the name of Nigeria.
The circular said: “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.”
Akume recalled several previous circulars — September 18, 2023 on Guidelines for Official Travels by Cabinet Members, March 31, 2015 for Chairmen of Boards, September 27, 2017 Additional Cost Control Measures, March 8, 2018 on Indifferent Adherence, and November 20, 2012 Further Cost-Cutting Measures.
“Despite these directives, instances of non-compliance continue to be recorded. This trend undermines Government’s efforts to ensure proper coordination, accountability, transparency, prudent management of public resources,” it stated.
Accordingly: “All official foreign trips undertaken by Federal Government appointees shall continue to require prior approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation before such trips are undertaken, except where otherwise expressly provided by law or by specific Presidential directive.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was directed to include evidence of valid OSGF approval as mandatory for official Notes Verbales, diplomatic facilitation and all applications relating to official foreign travel, and to formally communicate to all Foreign Missions and Embassies accredited to Nigeria that applications for Official, Diplomatic or Service Visas by Government Appointees should be accompanied by duly issued OSGF travel approval.
The Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation shall require every appointee who undertook official foreign trip at public expense to produce evidence of OSGF approval during audit, and “Any expenditure incurred in respect of official foreign travel undertaken without the required approval shall be reported appropriately in accordance with extant Financial Regulations.”
Accounting Officers, Permanent Secretaries, CEOs and Heads of Agencies were directed to ensure no expenditure for official foreign travel is processed unless approval has first been obtained.
“This circular takes immediate effect and supersedes any administrative practice inconsistent with its provisions,” Akume directed.
The circular was addressed to Chief of Staff to the President, all Ministers, Head of Civil Service, NSA, Economic Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, IGP, CBN Governor, Chairmen of FCSC, PSC, CCB, CCT, FCC, RMAFC, FIRS, INEC, NPC, ICPC, EFCC, NDLEA, all Permanent Secretaries, Clerk of NASS, Chief Registrar of Supreme Court, Accountant-General, Auditor-General, and DGs/CEOs of Parastatals and Government-Owned Companies — effectively covering all top appointees.
