Nigerian embassies struggling to pay rent, salaries, says foreign affairs ministry

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that several Nigerian diplomatic and consular missions abroad are facing financial strain, including unpaid rent, salary arrears, and other obligations.

In a statement on Monday, September 1, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the ministry’s spokesperson, said years of budget shortfalls and the country’s wider economic difficulties had disrupted operations.

“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 said.

It noted that missions are not immune to Nigeria’s economic challenges.

“The financial situation in our missions stems from budgetary limitations over the years, resulting in shortfalls in allocations,” the ministry added.

The ministry assured that the welfare of officers and their families remains a priority, adding that “the government is taking decisive and concrete steps to address the issues of fund allocation to all its missions abroad.”

Daily Times reported that the ministry said more than 80 percent of intervention funds had already been disbursed, prioritising service providers, local staff salaries, and arrears of officers’ claims.

A verification committee has also been set up to review the debt profiles of missions and ensure transparency.

The ministry confirmed it is working with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to recover 2024 shortfalls linked to exchange rate fluctuations.

It noted that the first tranche of payments had already been remitted, with some missions confirming receipt.”