The Federal Government has reduced the maximum reimbursable imprest available to ministers to N700,000 as part of fresh measures aimed at strengthening financial discipline and accountability across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
The directive is 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 circular issued by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
According to the circular, permanent secretaries and directors-general will now be entitled to a maximum reimbursable imprest of N500,000, while directors and heads of departments will have a ceiling of N300,000.
Heads of formations and other authorised imprest holders will be limited to N100,000.
The government also restricted the reimbursement of standing imprest to once per quarter, except in special cases where it may be approved twice within the same period.
In another measure to strengthen oversight of public funds, Ministries, Departments and Agencies were directed to ensure that procurements above N1m are carried out through contract awards in line with existing procurement laws.
The Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, said the measures were in line with financial regulations and formed part of efforts to promote accountability and prudent management of public resources.
The circular further directed self-accounting ministries, extra-ministerial departments and agencies to submit details of retired 2025 imprest allocations as well as lists of approved imprest holders for 2026.
The government also ordered imprest holders to operate dedicated operational bank accounts and submit monthly reports on funds received and retired in compliance with the Federal Government’s electronic payment policy.
It warned that routine inspections would be conducted throughout the financial year and sanctions imposed on officials found to have violated the regulations.
The latest directive is part of broader public financial management reforms aimed at improving transparency, accountability and value for money in government spending.
