FG Cuts Ministers' Imprest to N700,000 for Spending Control

The Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced measures to tighten spending and manage public funds more effectively. As part of this initiative, the imprest limit for ministers has been reduced to N700,000.

The new financial guidelines, detailed by Taiwo Oyedele, the Minister of Finance, and communicated through a circular from the Federal Treasury dated June 3, 2026, aim to increase oversight and ensure compliance with financial regulations. The circular specifies that the maximum reimbursement for permanent secretaries and director-generals is set at N500,000, while directors and heads of departments will have an allocation of N300,000, and state account officers will be limited to N100,000.

The guidelines also mandate that imprest replenishment should occur no more than twice a quarter and require local procurement for services above N1,000,000 to be handled through contract awards rather than cash advances. Additionally, ministries and agencies must submit returns to the Accountant General within 30 days, and routine checks will be conducted by the Treasury Inspectorate Department to ensure compliance.