The federal government has increased the monthly operational allowance for ministers to ₦700,000, clarifying that there was no reduction in the imprest allocations as earlier reported in some quarters.
The adjustment was contained in the 2026 Annual General Imprest Warrant issued by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, which outlines approved spending limits for government ministries, departments, and agencies.
Initial reports had suggested that the government was cutting down imprest payments across the board, including for top officials. However, official documents indicate that the allowances were actually reviewed upward.
Under the new structure, ministers will now receive ₦700,000 monthly for routine administrative expenses such as office supplies, refreshments, and other operational needs. This reflects a 133 percent increase from the previous ₦300,000 allocation.
Other categories of government officials also saw adjustments, with some cadre levels reportedly receiving increases of up to nearly 200 percent, depending on their rank.
Bawa Mokwa, a spokesperson for the office of the accountant general of the federation confirmed the development, noting that the review was influenced by current economic realities.
He stated that the imprest review applies broadly across government levels, not just ministers.
The development has sparked renewed public attention, especially as it comes at a time when Nigerian workers continue to grapple with the ₦70,000 minimum wage.
Labour unions, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), have been calling for a significantly higher wage benchmark, while the Nigeria Governors’ Forum has proposed a lower alternative of ₦100,000.
