The Federal Government has slashed ministers’ imprest among others fresh measures to instil financial discipline across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
The development was 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 to the MDAs.
The circular, dated June 3, 2026, authorised accounting officers across the three arms of government to approve funds to eligible imprest holders while setting clear spending thresholds and compliance requirements.
The circular has it that ministers will be entitled to a maximum reimbursable imprest of N700,000, while their permanent secretary and director-general counterparts will be limited to N500,000.
Regarding Directors and heads of departments, it says that they will be entitled to N300,000, while heads of formations in states and other authorised imprest holders will have a ceiling of N100,000.
According to the Office of the Accountant-General, the move was in line with the provisions of Financial Regulation 1003 and a way to ensure accountability and prudent management of public resources.
“All Accounting Officers in the three arms of government, including Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Offices and Agencies, are hereby authorised to approve funds to eligible imprest holders,” the circular read partly, adding 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 authorised holders.”
