The Federal Government has approved a significant reduction in the amount of imprest that can be accessed by ministers and other senior public officials, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen fiscal discipline, improve accountability and curb excessive government spending, SAVANNAH NEWSNOW REPORTS.
Under the new directive, ministers will now be entitled to a maximum reimbursable imprest of ₦700,000, a move aimed at ensuring prudent management of public funds across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The revised policy also places spending limits on other categories of government officials. Permanent secretaries and directors-general will now have a maximum imprest ceiling of ₦500,000, while directors and heads of departments will be entitled to a maximum of ₦300,000.
Similarly, heads of federal formations in states and other authorised imprest holders will be limited to ₦100,000.
Imprest is a cash advance provided to public officers to meet urgent and minor official expenses, subject to retirement and reimbursement upon presentation of relevant receipts and documentation.
Government sources said the new limits form part of broader public financial management reforms designed to enhance transparency, reduce waste, and ensure that public resources are utilised efficiently.
The directive is expected to affect expenditure patterns across MDAs, compelling officials to adhere to stricter financial controls and approval processes before incurring certain categories of expenditure.
The latest move underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening financial discipline and improving oversight of public expenditure as part of wider efforts to enhance governance and public sector efficiency
