At least 450 foreign service officers across 109 Nigerian missions abroad have not received their salaries for the past five to six months, leaving them in severe financial distress.
The affected officials, who serve under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are struggling to meet essential obligations such as rent, children’s school fees, and other family and social responsibilities.
The acting spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, acknowledged the financial challenges affecting the missions and assured that efforts were underway to resolve the situation.
“The ministry is aware of the difficulties faced by the missions abroad, and the leadership is working seriously to address the situation,” Ebienfa stated.
He further expressed optimism that with the recent passage of the 2025 Appropriation Act by the National Assembly, President Bola Tinubu would soon sign it into law, which would positively impact the ministry’s finances and those of the missions abroad.
Ministry Spent N251.71 Billion on Salaries in Four Years
Findings indicate that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spent N251.71 billion on salaries over the past four years, despite facing recurrent financial shortfalls.
In 2021, the ministry was allocated N73.14 billion, with N34.38 billion designated for personnel expenditure. The 2022 budget rose to N88.09 billion, of which N55.27 billion was used for salaries. In 2023, N98.11 billion was approved, with N62.30 billion allocated for personnel costs. The 2024 budget stood at N160.06 billion, with N99.76 billion allocated for salaries.
For 2025, the ministry has proposed a budget of N353.77 billion, including N214.64 billion for personnel costs, N72.24 billion for overheads, and N66.82 billion for capital expenditure.
N53 Billion Allocated for Foreign Mission Renovations
The federal government has also proposed N53 billion for the renovation of 103 foreign missions in 2025. These funds will cover various expenses, including the refurbishment of chanceries, staff quarters, ambassadors’ residences, procurement of office furniture, and official vehicles.
Some of the key allocations include:
- N554 million for the Nigerian mission in Abidjan
- N812 million for Banjul
- N555 million for Brazzaville
- N558 million for Port of Spain
- N576 million for Caracas
- N624 million for Kingston
- N567 million for Libreville
- N409 million for Buenos Aires
- N899 million for Niamey
Despite the increased appropriation, funding remains insufficient, with many missions struggling to sustain operations and complete necessary renovations.
Delayed Ambassadorial Appointments Worsen Situation
The crisis has been exacerbated by delays in appointing new ambassadors following President Tinubu’s recall of 83 envoys in September 2023. Financial constraints have slowed down the process, with Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar admitting that embassy operations require substantial funding.
“There is no point sending out ambassadors if you do not have the funds for them to even travel to their designated country and to run the missions effectively,” Tuggar stated during a ministerial briefing in May 2023. He added that the president was working on resolving the issue.
Embassies Struggling to Stay Afloat Amid Rising Debts
Sources within the ministry have attributed the financial strain to poor funding and delays in passing the 2025 budget. Officials at various embassies disclosed that some had not been paid since August or September 2024, making it difficult to cover essential expenses such as rent, staff salaries, and service provider payments.
One embassy official, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that several service providers had taken legal action to recover unpaid dues.
“This is mid-February, and the budget has not been approved or signed. How are the missions faring under this reality of financial neglect? The debts are piling up, and some service providers have dragged missions to court for redress. Some staff in most foreign missions have not been paid for six months,” the source lamented.
Another official highlighted that embassy staff were unable to effectively serve Nigerians abroad due to the financial crisis.
“The missions are struggling to stay afloat, and the lack of funds has a direct impact on their ability to serve Nigerians abroad,” the source stated, emphasizing the need for urgent government intervention.
