2025 FG Acknowledges Financial Struggles in Foreign Missions, Promises Reforms

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has acknowledged the financial and operational challenges confronting several Nigerian diplomatic and consular missions overseas, attributing the difficulties to budgetary shortfalls and shifts in foreign exchange policy.

In a statement issued on Monday by spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, the ministry confirmed that the constraints have disrupted smooth operations, leading to delays in payments to locally recruited staff, service providers, landlords, and even allowances for home-based officers.

“The ministry is not unaware of the restrictions that financial limitations have placed on the smooth running of the missions, including the inability to pay salaries of locally recruited staff, financial obligations to service providers, rent to landlords, and the foreign service allowance to home-based officers,” the statement read.

While stressing that diplomatic posts are not insulated from Nigeria’s broader economic realities, the ministry admitted that prolonged budgetary constraints have significantly impaired their ability to discharge core diplomatic duties.

The statement further assured that the welfare of officers and their families remains a priority for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

“The government is taking decisive and concrete steps to address the issues of fund allocation to all its Missions abroad,” it added.

Measures to ease the situation include the release of special intervention funds, with over 80 percent of available resources already cleared for payment. Priority has been given to salaries of local staff, arrears owed to officers, and obligations to service providers.

A committee has also been set up to audit debt profiles and ensure that payments are transparent, justified, and equitably distributed. The ministry also confirmed engagement with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to recover shortfalls from the 2024 fiscal year, largely caused by exchange rate fluctuations linked to the government’s monetary policy reforms.

“To mitigate its impact, the government of President Bola Tinubu, has graciously approved the settlement of the shortfall,” the ministry said, confirming that the first tranche of funds had already been remitted, with “some missions acknowledging receipt.”

In addition, second-semester allocations have now been approved, and the ministry is coordinating with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria to expedite the release of personnel and overhead funds beginning this week.

“Similarly, the Second Semester Allocations have also been approved. The ministry is engaging with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria to facilitate the prompt release of Personnel and Overhead Cost Allocations to all missions, starting this week, to clear outstanding allowances and further alleviate the financial situation of the Missions. With these efforts, Missions have begun to stabilise,” the statement said.

Looking ahead, the ministry revealed that it is developing a sustainable financial framework for its foreign missions, incorporating innovative and efficient strategies aligned with broader federal reforms aimed at improving fiscal governance and resource allocation.

“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.

“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,” he said.

In its closing remarks, the ministry expressed gratitude to diplomatic staff, host governments, and service providers for their resilience and cooperation during the difficult period.

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

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirms Nigeria’s commitment to robust and dynamic international diplomacy, as well as the unwavering protection and welfare of every Nigerian citizen worldwide,” the statement concluded.