The Federal Government has increased the monthly imprest allocation for ministers to N700,000, contrary to reports suggesting that the allowance had been reduced.
The adjustment was contained in the 2026 Annual General Imprest Warrant issued by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.
Earlier reports had claimed that the government reduced imprest allocations across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), with ministers, permanent secretaries and director generals, directors, and heads of departments reportedly receiving N700,000, N500,000, N300,000, and N100,000 respectively.
However, findings from the 2026 Annual General Imprest Warrant indicate that the allocations were instead increased significantly across the affected categories.
Under the revised structure, ministers will receive N700,000 monthly, representing a 133 percent increase from the previous N300,000 allocation. Directors are also among the beneficiaries of substantial upward adjustments, with their imprest rising by as much as 199 percent.
Spokesperson for the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, confirmed the development on Monday, attributing the increase to prevailing economic conditions.
“Imprest was increased for ministers and for others,” he said, citing current economic realities as the basis for the adjustment.
The increase comes at a time when many Nigerian workers continue to grapple with the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage, which translates to N840,000 annually.
Labour unions have continued to push for a higher wage benchmark. The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has advocated for a minimum wage of N1 million per month, while the Nigerian Governors Forum previously proposed N100,000.
