The Nigerian government’s financial challenges regarding its embassies abroad have been highlighted, with 109 missions affected and around 450 workers impacted by unpaid salaries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has acknowledged the difficulty and expressed optimism that the issue will be resolved once President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signs the 2025 Appropriation Act, which was recently passed by the National Assembly. This act is expected to address the ministry’s financial constraints, particularly in clearing the backlog of unpaid salaries.
The financial situation has created serious hardships for the embassy workers, who are struggling to meet basic obligations like paying rent, school fees for their children, and other family expenses. The government is aware of these challenges, and the leadership is working to resolve the situation, with hopes that the 2025 budget will soon be enacted.
In terms of expenditure, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has spent a significant amount—N251.71 billion over four years—on salaries alone. For 2025, the ministry proposed N353.77 billion, with a large portion (N214.64 billion) earmarked for personnel costs, signaling the scale of the financial needs. Additionally, N53 billion has been proposed for the renovation of 103 foreign missions this year.
This financial strain has also delayed the appointment of new ambassadors, a situation exacerbated by the government’s recent recall of 83 ambassadors in September 2023. Furthermore, tensions with foreign countries have added to the diplomatic challenges Nigeria faces, such as the recent visa denials to Nigerian military officials by Canada, which were criticized by Nigeria’s National Security Adviser.
The overall situation emphasizes the critical need for sufficient funding to ensure Nigeria’s diplomatic missions can function effectively and meet their obligations abroad.
