From mercy Peter
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has acknowledged ongoing financial and operational constraints facing Nigerian Diplomatic and Consular Missions abroad, assuring that the Federal Government is taking decisive steps to stabilise their operations and improve the welfare of staff.
The Ministry in a statement released on Monday by its Spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, admitted that several missions have been grappling with serious funding shortfalls, leading to delays in the payment of salaries to locally recruited staff, arrears owed to service providers, unpaid rents, and the inability to meet foreign service allowances for home-based officers.
“The Nigerian Diplomatic Missions are not immune to the economic situation at home and its attendant challenges to government operations,” the statement read. It attributed the situation to years of budgetary limitations and shortfalls in allocations, which have undermined the optimal functioning of the missions and their ability to fully deliver on diplomatic and consular mandates.”
The Ministry assured Nigerians and the international community that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration prioritises the welfare of its staff abroad.
According to the statement, the government has already approved and released special intervention funds to cushion the hardship in some missions.
A committee was also established to assess the debt profiles of affected missions and ensure fairness in payments.
“Based on responses from Missions and documentary evidence provided, more than 80 per cent of the available funds have been cleared for payments, with priority given to service providers, salaries of locally recruited staff and arrears of claims due to officers,” the Ministry disclosed.
Further relief has come with the approval of refunds to missions affected by foreign exchange differentials arising from the harmonisation of Nigeria’s exchange rates in 2024.
The Ministry confirmed that the first tranche of the refund has already been remitted, while additional funds under Second Semester Allocations have been approved for disbursement this week to clear outstanding allowances.
“These efforts have already begun to stabilise Missions,” the statement noted, adding that the Ministry is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to ensure prompt release of funds going forward.
Looking ahead, the Ministry announced it is developing a sustainable financial model to guarantee the long-term operational stability of Nigeria’s foreign missions.
This will form part of the Federal Government’s wider public sector financial reforms aimed at strengthening fiscal governance and efficiency.
While acknowledging the “resilience and patriotism” of its diplomatic staff, the Ministry also expressed gratitude to host governments, service providers, and international partners for their understanding and cooperation during the period of financial strain.
“The Nigerian government remains unwavering in its commitment to providing the necessary support to all its Missions abroad with a view to enabling them to function at their full capacity,” the Ministry affirmed.
