The ministry of foreign affairs has acknowledged the financial and operational difficulties afflicting several Nigerian diplomatic and consular missions.
In a statement signed by Kimiebi Ebienfa, the ministry’s
spokesperson, the ministry attributed the challenges to budgetary constraints
and economic pressures at home, which have affected allocations to missions
over the years.
He said the shortfalls, which include delays in salary
payments, unsettled service provider bills, have hampered the effective
functioning of Nigeria’s missions abroad.
The ministry assured Nigerians at home and in the diaspora
that the welfare of diplomatic staff and their families remains a top priority
for the President Bola Tinubu administration.
Ebienfa highlighted recent measures, including the approval
and release of special intervention funds to ease the hardship faced by some
missions.
To ensure transparency and prudent use of funds, the
ministry said it has established a committee to assess the debt profiles of
affected missions, adding that over 80 percent of available funds have been
cleared for payments, prioritising service providers, locally recruited staff
salaries, and arrears owed to officers.
The ministry also disclosed ongoing engagements with the
office of the accountant-general, ministry of finance, and the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN) to address shortfalls caused by foreign exchange differentials
and monetary policy changes.
The statement added that efforts are underway to develop a
sustainable financial model for funding Nigeria’s missions abroad,
incorporating innovative solutions and efficiency measures aligned with broader
public sector financial reforms.
The ministry commended the resilience and patriotism of
diplomatic staff working under challenging conditions and thanked host
governments, service providers, and international partners for their
cooperation.
“With these efforts, Missions have begun to stabilize. In
the same vein, the ministry is also working diligently to develop a sustainable
financial model for funding our missions abroad, which includes exploring
innovative solutions and efficiency measures to ensure long-term operational
stability,” the statement reads.
“These efforts are integral to the broader public sector
financial reforms being implemented by the federal government, aimed at
enhancing fiscal governance and ensuring the effective allocation of resources.
“The ministry recognises the resilience and dedication of
its diplomatic staff who continue to discharge their duties with commendable
patriotism under these difficult circumstances.
“We also thank the host governments, service providers and
our international partners for their understanding and continued cooperation.
“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.”
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