Nigerian Govt increases ministers’ imprest by N133% as workers grapple with N70,000 minimum wage

The Nigerian government increased the imprest for ministers, for expenses on items such as office stationery, refreshments and others, to N700,000 per month, contrary to the reports making the rounds that the allowance was reduced.

The Federal Government raised the cap in a 2026 Annual General Imprest Warrant issued by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

A report had 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 by the NEWSCALL 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 in his statement on Monday.

“Imprest was increased for ministers and for others, 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 Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, has demanded a minimum wage rise to N1 million per month, while the Nigerian Governors Forum proposed N100,000.