The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume. Photo: OSGF
The Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to stop processing payments for official foreign trips undertaken by government appointees without prior approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The directive was contained in a circular dated August 13, 2026, issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, all ministers, Heads of the Civil Service, service chiefs, heads of federal agencies, and chief executives of parastatals and government-owned companies.
The circular, with reference number PRS59648/S.13/TI/335, noted that despite existing regulations, “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, contrary to extant government directives and established administrative procedures.”
According to the document, the government has issued at least five previous circulars since 2012 to regulate foreign travel by cabinet members and public officials, but instances of non-compliance continue to be recorded, a trend it said undermines the government’s efforts to ensure proper coordination, accountability, transparency, and prudent management of public resources.
