…Allowance increased by 133% as workers struggle with N70,000 wage
By Peter Taiwo
The Federal Government has increased the monthly imprest allowance for ministers to N700,000, representing a 133 per cent rise from the previous N300,000 allocation.
The increase was contained in the 2026 Annual General Imprest Warrant issued by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), dispelling reports that the government had reduced imprest allocations for ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
Earlier reports had claimed that imprest allowances for ministers, permanent secretaries, directors-general and directors had been slashed to N700,000, N500,000, N300,000 and N100,000 respectively.
However, checks on the official warrant indicate that the allocations were instead increased. Under the new arrangement, ministers will receive N700,000 monthly as imprest, up from N300,000, while directors and other senior public officials are also expected to benefit from significant increases.
Imprest funds are discretionary allocations used to cover routine official expenses, including office stationery, refreshments and other administrative costs.
Speaking on the development, the spokesperson for the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, confirmed that the allowances had been reviewed upward.
“Imprest was increased for ministers and for others,” Mokwa said, attributing the decision to prevailing economic realities in the country.
The increase comes at a time when many Nigerian workers are grappling with the implementation of the N70,000 national minimum wage, which translates to N840,000 annually.
Labour unions have continued to express concerns over the rising cost of living and the erosion of workers’ purchasing power. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has previously advocated for a substantial upward review of the minimum wage, proposing a monthly wage of N1 million, while the Nigeria Governors’ Forum suggested N100,000 as a more realistic benchmark.
The latest increase in allowances for top government officials is expected to generate debate among stakeholders, particularly amid growing concerns over inflation, economic hardship and income inequality across the country.
