An in-depth investigation into the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its missions has been mandated by the House of Representatives, assigning the task to its Committee on Foreign Affairs.
This decision came after a motion put forward by Ben Etanabene, PDP-Delta representative during a plenary session in Abuja on Thursday.
Etanabene highlighted the government’s initiation of reforms aimed at enhancing service delivery within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including its parastatals, agencies, and missions.
Expressing his concerns, he mentioned the various measures taken by the House to ensure the successful implementation of the ministry’s reforms and policies for the benefit of the country.
He raised alarm over the challenges faced by Nigerians globally, particularly regarding consular services, emphasizing that urgent actions are needed to address issues such as Nigerians being unlawfully detained or imprisoned in foreign countries under harsh conditions that may endanger their lives.
Furthermore, he pointed out the struggles faced by Nigerians, including government officials and legislators, in obtaining visas for legitimate trips despite paying high visa fees.
Emphasizing the outsourcing of visa application processes by embassies to agents, he highlighted the financial burden borne by Nigerians seeking these services.
He also touched on the issue of varied visa application modes, including costly express services that sometimes result in visa denials post-payment.
Regarding the Ministry’s funding, he mentioned the budget allocations, intervention funds, and internally generated revenue used to manage the ministry’s operations and missions.
Highlighting complaints received by the committee, he pointed out concerns related to employment, appointments, postings, redeployment, and disciplinary matters affecting the morale and service delivery of staff.
He further discussed the overstepping of local staff ceilings in some missions, which has led to violations of regulations and, in some cases, exceeding the number of Foreign Service Officers permitted.
This has subsequently contributed to financial indebtedness within these missions.
The House approved the motion, granting the Committee on Foreign Affairs the authority to conduct a comprehensive investigation and present their findings within three weeks.