ABUJA — Following recent scandals involving unauthorized entities and self-styled officials claiming to represent the Federal Republic of Nigeria abroad, the Federal Government has introduced strict administrative barriers barring Cabinet Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, and Directors-General of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) from embarking on official foreign travel without explicit prior approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
The directive—issued via a mandatory circular 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”—was signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
The policy response follows heightened public and international scrutiny surrounding the activities of illegal or unapproved agencies, most notably the controversy involving the “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” (PFIPC) and its self-styled leader, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who engaged foreign entities under the guise of an official federal mandate.
Key Operational Constraints & Enforcement Protocols
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Mandatory Visa Processing Clearance: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been instructed to mandate proof of OSGF approval as an indispensable requirement for issuing Notes Verbales, diplomatic facilitation, and official, diplomatic, or service visa applications for all public officials.
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Foreign Mission Verification: Foreign diplomatic missions accredited to Nigeria will be officially notified that no Nigerian appointee seeking travel documentation for official state business can proceed without verified OSGF authorization.
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Audit Scrutiny & Financial Disallowance: The Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation (OAuGF) has been directed to audit all public expenditure related to foreign trips. Permanent Secretaries, Chief Executive Officers, and Accounting Officers are explicitly forbidden from processing travel allowances or reimbursements for unauthorized journeys. Any funds disbursed without prior OSGF approval will be reported as financial violations under public audit procedures.
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Scope of Affected Public Officials: The circular covers Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, Service Chiefs, Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Agencies, Directors-General, Chairmen of Federal Boards, and members of presidential committees.
