Ministry of Finance Spent ₦19.7 Million on Foreign Trips Without Required Approval, Review Finds

NewsNGR 

A fresh review of federal spending has uncovered that the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning disbursed ₦19,690,031.00 on overseas travel without securing the required prior approval from the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

The expenditure occurred during the tenure of Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, who served as the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning from August 2019 to May 2023 . The review, which examined fiscal activities for the 2020 budget year, flagged the ministry for breaching established protocols governing public-funded foreign trips.

According to the findings, the payments were made without evidence that the mandatory clearance was obtained before the trips were undertaken. The regulation in question Establishment Circular SGF/OP/I/S.3/XII/158, issued on 15 October 2019 explicitly requires that all yearly travel plans for statutory meetings receive express clearance from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and/or the Office of the Head of the Civil Service within the first quarter of the fiscal year .

The review identified serious risks associated with the transaction, including the potential loss of government funds, payment for services not actually rendered, and the possible diversion of public money. These concerns are particularly acute given the ministry’s central role in managing the nation’s finances.

In response to the findings, management defended the spending. They stated that delegates are only nominated when funds are available and that travel costs are captured in approved departmental budgets. 

The ministry further claimed that the Head of Service’s waiver and approval requirements are strictly adhered to, with necessary approvals obtained where required.

The disclosure comes amid broader scrutiny of foreign travel expenditures across government agencies. The same review noted that eight Ministries, Departments, and Agencies collectively spent over ₦728 million on overseas trips and conferences without appropriate approval during the 2020 fiscal year, with the Securities and Exchange Commission accounting for the largest single portion of the unapproved sum.

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