The Federal Government has introduced new measures aimed at strengthening financial discipline across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), placing fresh limits on reimbursable imprest and tightening oversight of public spending.
The 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, was signed by Accountant-General Shamseldeen Ogunjimi.
Under the new structure, ministers are entitled to a maximum reimbursable imprest of N700,000, while permanent secretaries and directors-general are limited to N500,000. Directors and heads of departments will receive up to N300,000, while heads of formations and other authorised imprest holders are capped at N100,000.
The circular also restricts reimbursement frequency, stating that imprest claims should normally be processed once per quarter and not more than twice where necessary. In addition, all local procurements of goods and services above N1 million must be carried out through formal contract awards in line with the Public Procurement Act.
To strengthen accountability, MDAs are required to submit returns within 30 days detailing how 2025 imprest allocations were retired, alongside lists of approved 2026 imprest holders and their locations. Imprest holders are also directed to operate dedicated bank accounts and submit monthly reports on funds received and retired.
The Accountant-General warned that the Treasury Inspectorate Department will conduct routine inspections, with sanctions for breaches including withdrawal of imprest approval privileges. The reforms form part of broader efforts to enhance transparency, enforce financial regulations, and strengthen public financial management across government institutions.
Elijah Adeyemi
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