ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the deteriorating infrastructure at Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in New York, Atlanta, and Washington D.C., following revelations of neglect and mismanagement.
The decision came after the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance raised on Wednesday by Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, who described the state of the missions as both disturbing and embarrassing.
Chinda, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the findings emerged from “the recent oversight visit of the Nigeria-United States of America Parliamentary Friendship Group to Nigeria’s Mission Houses in New York, Atlanta and Washington D.C.”
He noted that “The Nigerian Mission House in New York is reportedly indebted in rent payments and has left over 30 staff members without salaries for over a year; and in Washington D.C., the elevator in the Mission House was only repaired after a patriotic Nigerian intervened to restore it, an act which while noble, underscores gross negligence and systemic dysfunction in the running of Nigeria’s foreign missions.”
Highlighting the critical role of embassies and consulates, Chinda explained that “Nigeria maintains several diplomatic missions globally comprising embassies, high commissions and consulates, charged with representing Nigeria’s interests, strengthening bilateral ties, facilitating consular services, and supporting Nigerian citizens in diaspora.”
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He added that these missions are vital for promoting diplomatic, economic, and cultural engagements, especially in the United States, which hosts key global institutions such as the United Nations.
“Cognisant that for two years running, Nigeria has failed to replace Nigeria Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Nigerian High Commissioner to the USA who chairs the Committee on Peace; this dereliction amongst other issues has created a negative perception of Nigeria globally and will potentially harm our aspiration for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council,” he warned.
Chinda pointed out that Nigerian missions abroad continue to struggle with infrastructure decay, unpaid staff salaries, weak diplomatic participation, and poor policy engagement, despite receiving annual budgetary allocations for operations, facility maintenance, and welfare.
He further noted, “The dwindling value of the naira has made some very inadequate, and the missions are therefore unable to meet their obligations, especially in the USA.
We are perturbed that Nigeria’s international image is severely undermined by such appalling neglect, mismanagement, and administrative decay in key diplomatic outposts – especially in the US, where Nigeria maintains strategic interests and aspirations, including her long-standing quest for and permanent seat on the UN Security Council.”
The motion received unanimous support from lawmakers present at the plenary.
In response, the House urged the Federal Government to immediately appoint the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and High Commissioner to the United States, both of which have been vacant.
It also called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to urgently intervene and prevent further embarrassment at Nigeria’s US missions.
Furthermore, the House mandated its Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian/USA Parliamentary Friendship Group to “investigate the administrative, financial, and infrastructural conditions of Nigeria’s Missions in New York, Atlanta, and Washington D.C; ascertain the causes of salary arrears, budgetary shortfalls, and mismanagement of allocated funds and propose long-term recommendations to restore efficiency, professionalism, and dignity in Nigeria’s foreign service operations.”