Chuka Udedibia, a former naira and dollar exchange rate acting permanent secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has demanded better funding for Nigerian missions abroad.
He cited the main difficulties that Nigeria’s foreign missions face as being financially and structurally constrained.
Without lasting reforms, he contends, the same issues will persist.
Udedibia stated on Thursday’s Sunrise Daily, Channels Television’s breakfast program, that the challenges facing foreign missions were stemmed from persistent underfunding, volatile exchange rates, and significant dependence on rental properties abroad.
“I would prefer to discuss the causes rather than the symptoms. The current official rate of 1 to $1 was roughly 150 a long time ago. Today, it’s about ₦1, 500, at one point, it was even about ₦1, 800.
Remittances to missions must reflect the shortfall they suffer as a result of the naira’s devaluation of major international currencies, but this is not the case. The issue began there.
You have noticed a cumulative decline in missions remittances and increased debt throughout this time. He continued, “The ministry itself is a victim.”
Read more about Nigerian Embassies’ Conflicts With Unpaid Rent, Salary Arrears, and Other Stories in FG.
Although intervention had previously been taken, the relief, according to the former envoy, was frequently temporary.
Although they have made some special interventions, he said, “Don’t be surprised if we are battling the same issue again in the next six to a year.”
Udedibia also criticised Nigeria’s slow progress making permanent housing arrangements for missions abroad as a major cost-cutting factor.
“We don’t spend a lot of money in missions where we own the chancery and quarters.” However, he claimed that in some places, rent is paid for both officers’ homes and offices, and that’s very expensive.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently acknowledged the financial difficulties of missions abroad, citing allocation issues and currency issues.
Source: Channels TV
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