Ministry of Foreign Affairs Assures Support for Nigerian Missions Abroad Amid Financial Constraints
Oru Leonard
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria has acknowledged the financial difficulties faced by several of its diplomatic and consular missions abroad. These challenges stem from budgetary constraints and foreign exchange policy shifts, affecting their ability to pay staff salaries, service providers, and rent.
Budgetary limitations have resulted in shortfalls in allocations, impacting the optimal functioning of missions and their ability to deliver core diplomatic and consular mandates.
Nigerian Missions have struggled to pay locally recruited staff, service providers, and home-based officers’ foreign service allowances.
The Nigerian diplomatic missions are not immune to the economic situation at home, which has further exacerbated the financial strain.
The Nigerian government has approved and released special intervention funds to cushion the effects of hardship faced by some missions, with over 80% of available funds cleared for payments.
The government has also approved the settlement of shortfalls in mission allocations due to foreign exchange differentials.
These allocations have been approved, and the ministry is working to facilitate prompt release of personnel and overhead cost allocations to all missions.
The ministry is developing a sustainable financial model for funding missions abroad, exploring innovative solutions and efficiency measures.
Payments have been prioritized for service providers, salaries of locally recruited staff, and arrears of claims due to officers.
The welfare of diplomatic staff and their families remains a top priority for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is committed to robust and dynamic international diplomacy, protecting Nigerian citizens worldwide, and ensuring the effective allocation of resources.
