TINUBU GOVERNMENT BANS MINISTERS, SECURITY CHIEFS, AGENCY HEADS FROM FOREIGN TRIPS WITHOUT SGF APPROVAL

The administration of President Bola Tinubu has directed ministers, security chiefs, heads of government agencies and other Federal 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.

The directive, contained in a circular signed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, takes immediate effect and is aimed at enforcing existing regulations governing official foreign travel by senior government officials.

The Federal Government said the decision followed concerns that some government appointees had continued to travel abroad on official assignments without obtaining the required clearance from the OSGF.

According to the circular, the continued disregard for the established approval process undermines government efforts to ensure proper coordination, accountability, transparency and prudent management of public resources.

The government specifically directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make evidence of valid OSGF approval a mandatory requirement when processing official travel documentation and providing diplomatic facilitation for government appointees.

Under the new directive, government officials seeking to undertake official foreign trips will be required to obtain the necessary approval before travelling, except in circumstances expressly provided for by law or through a specific presidential directive.

The circular referenced several previous government directives issued over the years to regulate foreign travels by ministers, heads of agencies, board chairmen and other senior public officials.

Among them is the September 18, 2023 circular titled “Guidelines for Official Travels by Cabinet Members, Heads of Agencies and Public Officials.”

The Federal Government also referred to a March 31, 2015 directive concerning official trips by chairmen of government committees, boards, corporations and government-owned companies.

Other directives cited included the September 27, 2017 circular introducing additional cost-control measures for foreign trips by ministers and senior government officials, as well as a March 8, 2018 directive concerning compliance with existing regulations governing official travels.

A further circular issued on November 20, 2012, which introduced additional cost-cutting measures and fiscal prudence requirements for foreign trips by cabinet members, was also referenced.

Despite the series of directives issued by successive administrations, the SGF said violations had continued, prompting the government to strengthen the enforcement mechanism.

The latest circular stated that unauthorised foreign trips have implications beyond the individual officials involved because they affect the coordination of government business and the management of public funds.

The government maintained that official foreign engagements must be properly monitored to ensure that they serve legitimate government purposes and comply with established financial and administrative procedures.

As part of the new enforcement measures, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been directed to ensure that applications relating to official visas and diplomatic facilitation are supported by the required OSGF approval where applicable.

The directive is also expected to affect the processing of official, diplomatic and service visas for government appointees travelling on official assignments.

Foreign missions and embassies accredited to Nigeria are also expected to be informed of the requirement so that requests involving government officials can be processed in line with the new guidelines.

The government has further directed the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation to require officials who undertake foreign trips at public expense to produce evidence that the necessary OSGF approval was obtained.

This means government officials who travel abroad using public funds without the required approval could face scrutiny during subsequent audit exercises.

The circular also warned that expenditure incurred on unauthorised foreign trips could be reported in accordance with applicable financial regulations and audit procedures.

Accounting officers, permanent secretaries, chief executive officers and heads of government agencies have consequently been instructed not to process expenditure relating to official foreign travel unless the required approval has been secured.

The SGF called on ministers, permanent secretaries, accounting officers and heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure strict compliance with the directive.

The renewed enforcement of the travel rules comes amid broader government efforts to control public expenditure and strengthen financial discipline across the Federal Government.

Foreign trips by senior government officials have frequently attracted public scrutiny in Nigeria, particularly when taxpayers are required to bear the costs of air tickets, accommodation, allowances and other expenses associated with international assignments.

The latest directive is therefore expected to increase scrutiny of official foreign travel and make it more difficult for government officials to embark on publicly funded trips without prior administrative clearance.

The government has stressed that the requirement is not entirely new but represents an enforcement of existing rules that have been repeatedly issued by successive administrations.

The latest circular takes immediate effect and supersedes any administrative practice that is inconsistent with its provisions, while existing laws and regulations governing official foreign travel remain applicable.

The administration’s decision could also provide government with a centralised mechanism for tracking the international engagements of ministers, security chiefs and agency heads and determining whether such trips are necessary and properly authorised.

However, the effectiveness of the policy will depend largely on how consistently the rules are enforced and whether officials who violate the requirements face appropriate consequences.

For now, all affected Federal Government appointees are expected to obtain the necessary approval before undertaking official foreign travel.

The directive represents another attempt by the Tinubu administration to impose tighter controls on government spending and ensure that public resources are used in accordance with established financial and administrative procedures.

Street News Reporters will continue to monitor the implementation of the directive and any further clarification from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation or the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.