The Federal Government has officially increased monthly imprest (office running costs) caps for ministers and senior public officials to ₦700,000, 133% upward review, from the previous ₦300,000, this was approved in the 2026 Annual General Imprest Warrant by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to account for prevailing economic realities.
While initial public interpretations suggested a spending reduction, official clarifications confirmed the adjustments reflect a 133% to 199% upward increase from previous base thresholds to match prevailing economic realities.
This policy change has triggered widespread public criticism due to its stark contrast with the ₦70,000 national minimum wage that Nigerian workers continue to navigate.
This raise has sparked sharp reactions across Nigeria, as civil servants continue to struggle with the ₦70,000 national minimum wage signed into law. Workers argue that soaring inflation and transport costs have heavily devalued the minimum wage, rendering it insufficient to cover basic living expenses
A report has emerged that the government has slashed imprest for ministries, departments, and agencies, MDAs.
The report said imprest was reduced for ministers, permanent secretaries/director general, directors/heads of department to N700,0000, N500,000, N300, 000 and N100,000, respectively.
However, checks on the 2026 Annual General Imprest Warrant showed that the imprest was raised, respectively, by 199 and 133 percent to between N200,000 and N400,000.
For instance, ministers are to receive an additional 133 percent imprest expenses rising to N700,000 from N300,000. Also, directors would get 199 percent extra.
The spokesperson of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, confirmed this on Monday.
“Imprest was increased for ministers and for others,” he said, citing prevailing economic realities as the basis.
The development comes as Nigerian workers grapple with a N70,000 minimum wage, which stood at N840,000 per annum.
The Office of the Accountant General clarified that the imprest (which covers expenses like office stationery and minor refreshments) was adjusted to reflect current economic pressures. The new structure for ministry officials is as follows
Ministers: ₦700,000 (a 133% increase from ₦300,000)
Permanent Secretaries/Directors-General: ₦500,000
Directors: ₦300,000
Heads of Department: ₦100,000 to ₦200,000
Consequential Adjustments & Workers’ Stance
While the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission (NSIWC) has rolled out consequential salary adjustments across various civil service grade levels, organized labor continues to call for broader living-wage reforms.
The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, are demanding a minimum wage rise to N1 million per month, while the Nigerian Governors Forum proposed N100,000.