FG moves to face the financial missions of the Nigerian missions abroad – Thage

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recognized the financial and operational constraints recently experienced by some of our diplomatic and consular missions abroad and stated that the situation is a reflection of the situation at home in Nigeria.

The spokesman, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, Kimiebi IMOMOTIMI Ebienfa on Monday, said that the Ministry is not aware of the restrictions that financial limitations have placed regular correction of the missions, including the inability of officers.

“It is relevant to state, However, that the Nigerian Diplomatic Missioni are not immune to the Economic Situation at home and its attention challenges to government operations. The Financial Situation in Our Missioni Stems from Budgetary Limitions Over the Years, Resulting in Shortfalls in allocations, Which in Turn Have Significantly Impacted the Optimal Functioning of Many of Our Mission Abroad, and the skill to Deliver on Their Core Diplomatic and Consular Mandates Effectively, he Said, and Gave the certainty that the well -being of his staff and their families in the diaspora is of fundamental importance for the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

*The government is taking decisive and concrete measures to deal with the issues of the allocation of funds to all its missions abroad.
One of these corrective measures was the approval and release of special intervention funds to cushion the effects of the difficulties faced by some missions.

*To ensure that the money paid to the missions is used with judgment and managed prudently in line with the financial discipline policy of this administration, the Ministry has established a committee to evaluate and confirm the profile of the debt of the missions concerned in order to ensure that the payments are justifiable and made on the basis of equity and equity for all affected people. Based on the responses of the missions and documentary tests provided, over 80 % of the funds available were deleted for payments, with priorities given to service providers, salaries of locally recruited staff and backward backgrounds due to officials, respectively.

*The Ministry also involved the General Accounting Office of the Federation to obtain reimbursements for the deficit of allocations of the missions in the tax year of 2024 due to differentials in foreign currency associated with the new monetary policy and the harmonization of exchange rates. To mitigate his impact, the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has kindly approved the settlement of the deficiency. *Consequently, the first tranche has already been put back to all the missions, with some who confirmed the receipt.

*In the same way, the allocations of the second half have also been approved. The Ministry is working with the Federal Finance Ministry and the Central Bank of Nigeria to facilitate the prompt liberation of the staff and the allocations of general costs to all missions, starting this week, to clarify the outstanding allowances and further alleviate the financial situation of the missions. With these efforts, the missions began to stabilize.

*In the same way, the Ministry is also working diligently to develop a sustainable financial model for the financing of our missions abroad, which includes the exploration of innovative solutions and efficiency measures to guarantee long -term operational stability. These efforts are an integral part of the largest financial reforms of the public sector implemented by the Federal Government, aimed at improving tax governance and guaranteeing the effective allocation of resources.

He said that the Ministry recognizes the resilience and dedication of his diplomatic staff who continue to fulfill their duties with commendable patriotism in these difficult circumstances. We also thank the host governments, service providers and our international partners for their understanding and continuous cooperation. The Nigerian government remains unshakable in its commitment to provide the necessary support to all its missions abroad in order to allow them to work in full capacity.

*We are confident that the current challenges are temporary and will be overcome through the concerted efforts of this administration.*

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