The Federal Government has introduced new financial control measures that significantly tighten the management of public funds across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), including setting a maximum reimbursable imprest of ₦700,000 for ministers.
According to a Federal Treasury Circular issued by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and based on the 2026 Annual General Imprest Warrant, the new limits are:
- Ministers — ₦700,000
- Permanent Secretaries and Director-Generals — ₦500,000
- Directors and Heads of Departments — ₦300,000
- Heads of State Formations and other authorized officers — ₦100,000
An imprest is a cash advance provided to public officials to cover routine and urgent official expenses that do not require the full procurement process. Such advances must be accounted for and retired with appropriate documentation before fresh approvals can be granted.
The government also introduced stricter reimbursement rules, stating that standing imprest should normally be reimbursed only once per quarter and, in exceptional circumstances, not more than twice in a quarter.
In addition, all procurements exceeding ₦1 million must go through formal contract award procedures in accordance with procurement laws, while imprest holders are required to maintain dedicated operational bank accounts and submit regular reports on expenditures and retirements.
The Office of the Accountant-General said the measures are aimed at improving accountability, transparency, and prudent management of public resources. It also warned that violations of the regulations could lead to the withdrawal of imprest privileges and other sanctions.
Public finance experts view the directive as part of broader efforts by the Federal Government to strengthen fiscal discipline and reduce opportunities for misuse of public funds amid continuing economic pressures and demands for greater accountability in government spending.
The policy affects senior officials across the executive, legislative, and judicial arms of government and is expected to be monitored through routine inspections by treasury authorities.
