The Federal Government has reiterated that all official foreign trips by government appointees must receive prior approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
The directive is contained in a circular on August 13, signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and addressed to ministers, permanent secretaries, heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), and other senior government officials.
SGF said the directive takes immediate effect and supersedes any administrative practice inconsistent with its provisions.
According to the circular made available to newsmen, on Wednesday in Abuja, the measure is aimed at strengthening accountability, fiscal discipline, transparency, coordination of government business and prudent management of public resources.
Akume expressed concern that some government appointees had continued to embark on official foreign trips without obtaining the required approval, contrary to existing government directives.
“All official foreign trips undertaken by Federal Government appointees shall continue to require prior approval from the OSGF before such trips are undertaken except where otherwise provided by law or specific presidential directive,” the circular stated.
It further directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make evidence of valid OSGF approval a mandatory requirement, where applicable, for processing official Notes Verbales, diplomatic facilitation and applications relating to official foreign travel by government appointees.
The ministry was also asked to communicate the requirement to foreign missions and embassies accredited to Nigeria, advising that applications for official, diplomatic or service visas by government appointees should, where applicable, be accompanied by OSGF travel approval.
In the same vein, the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation was equally directed to require evidence of OSGF approval during audit exercises for official foreign trips undertaken at public expense.
The circular warned that expenditure incurred on foreign trips undertaken without the required approval would be reported in accordance with extant financial regulations and applicable audit procedures.
It also directed accounting officers, permanent secretaries, chief executive officers and heads of the Federal Government agencies to ensure that no expenditure relating to official foreign travel by government appointees is processed without prior OSGF approval.