Nigerian Missions Abroad Struggle With Unpaid Rents And Salary Backlogs

The Federal Government has admitted that Nigerian embassies and consulates around the world are facing serious financial difficulties, with staff salaries, allowances, and rents left unpaid.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, attributed the problems to years of budget shortfalls and the recent impact of foreign exchange policy changes.

According to the ministry, the financial strain has disrupted the effective running of several missions, leaving locally recruited staff unpaid, home-based officers without their allowances, and missions indebted to landlords and service providers.

“The ministry is aware of the challenges that limited funding has placed on the operations of our missions, ranging from delayed staff salaries to unpaid rents and unsettled obligations to service providers,” the statement explained.

It added that Nigerian diplomatic posts are not exempt from the country’s economic realities, noting that inadequate funding over time has undermined their ability to fully discharge their diplomatic responsibilities.

Despite this, the ministry assured Nigerians that the welfare of foreign service officers and their families remains a priority for President Bola Tinubu’s administration. It disclosed that special intervention funds had already been released to ease the situation, with over 80 per cent of available resources directed to settling staff salaries, claims, and service provider arrears.

To ensure accountability, the government has set up a verification committee to review the debt records of missions and confirm the legitimacy of payments.

The ministry also revealed ongoing collaboration with the Office of the Accountant-General to recover 2024 budget shortfalls linked to exchange rate fluctuations under recent monetary reforms. The first tranche of relief funds has already been disbursed, with some missions confirming receipt, while a second tranche is being processed with the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Looking forward, the ministry said efforts are underway to establish a more sustainable funding model for embassies and consulates, aligning with wider fiscal reforms to strengthen resource management and governance.

While acknowledging the patience of diplomatic staff, service providers, and host countries, the ministry expressed optimism that the financial setbacks are temporary.

“We are confident these challenges will be overcome through the ongoing reforms. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains committed to safeguarding the welfare of Nigerian citizens abroad and upholding the country’s diplomatic presence globally,” the statement concluded.