The Federal Government has introduced fresh measures aimed at strengthening financial discipline across ministries, departments, and agencies by placing new limits on reimbursable imprest and tightening oversight of public funds. Slashes
The new directives are contained in the 2026 Annual General Imprest Warrant signed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and conveyed through a Federal Treasury Circular issued by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The circular, dated June 3, 2026, and signed by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, authorizes accounting officers across the three arms of government to approve funds to eligible imprest holders while setting clear spending thresholds and compliance requirements.
According to the circular, ministers will be entitled to a maximum reimbursable imprest of N700,000, while permanent secretaries and directors-general will be limited to N500,000. Directors and heads of departments will be entitled to N300,000, while heads of formations in states and other authorized imprest holders will have a ceiling of N100,000.
The Office of the Accountant-General said the move was in line with the provisions of Financial Regulation 1003 and forms part of efforts to ensure accountability and prudent management of public resources.
The circular stated, “All accounting officers in the three arms of government, including ministries, extra-ministerial offices, and agencies, are hereby authorized to approve funds to eligible imprest holders.”
However, it added that “the limit of reimbursable imprest shall be” N700,000 for ministers, N500,000 for permanent secretaries and directors-general, N300,000 for directors and heads of departments, and N100,000 for heads of formations and other authorized holders.
Sponsored
In another significant directive, the government restricted the frequency of imprest reimbursements.
“The frequency of reimbursement of any standing imprest shall normally be once in a quarter and shall not exceed twice in a quarter where the need arises,” the circular stated.
The government also directed all accounting officers and expenditure controllers to ensure that procurements above N1m are conducted through contract awards in line with existing procurement laws.
“All local procurement of stores and services costing above N1,000,000 shall be made only through the award of contracts, except as otherwise provided by the Public Procurement Act,” the circular noted.
The directive further emphasized strict compliance with financial regulations governing the management and retirement of imprest accounts.
To strengthen monitoring, all self-accounting ministries, extra-ministerial departments, and agencies have been directed to submit returns to the Accountant-General within 30 days of the circular.
The returns are expected to contain details of how 2025 imprest allocations were retired, as well as lists of approved imprest holders for 2026 and their locations.
SPONSORED