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The Federal Government has acknowledged growing financial and operational challenges affecting Nigeria’s diplomatic and consular missions abroad, attributing the strain to budget constraints and recent foreign exchange policy shifts.
In a statement issued Monday by spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs admitted that the difficulties have disrupted the effective running of several missions. These problems have caused delays in paying salaries to locally hired staff, allowances for Nigerian officers posted overseas, as well as rent and other obligations owed to landlords and service providers.
“The ministry is fully aware of the impact of financial limitations on the proper functioning of the missions, including the inability to settle wages for local employees, meet financial commitments to service providers, pay rent, and disburse foreign service allowances to home-based officers,” the statement read.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has emphasized that the financial strain on Nigeria’s embassies reflects the broader economic difficulties facing the country. It explained that years of inadequate funding have weakened the ability of diplomatic missions to effectively carry out their core responsibilities.
In its statement, the ministry said: “Nigeria’s missions abroad are not exempt from the economic realities at home, and the funding challenges result from years of budget shortfalls.”
The ministry assured Nigerians that the welfare of foreign service officers and their families remains a priority for President Bola Tinubu’s administration. It disclosed that the government has already released special intervention funds to ease financial pressures, with over 80% of available resources directed to paying service providers, settling salaries for local staff, and addressing officers’ arrears. To ensure accountability, a verification committee has been set up to review mission debts and confirm legitimate claims.
The ministry added that it is working with the Office of the Accountant-General to recover shortfalls from the 2024 budget, which were linked to exchange rate fluctuations under recent monetary reforms. It noted that the first tranche of payments has already been disbursed to some missions, with a second tranche approved and awaiting release through coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank.
Looking forward, the ministry said it is developing a more sustainable financial framework for foreign missions, aligning with the federal government’s broader reforms aimed at improving fiscal governance and efficient resource allocation.
The ministry also expressed gratitude to diplomatic staff, host governments, and service providers for their patience and cooperation, assuring that the current challenges are temporary. It reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strong international diplomacy and to safeguarding the welfare of citizens worldwide.
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