At least 450 foreign service officers across 109 Nigerian missions abroad have gone without salaries for the past five to six months, leaving them in financial distress and struggling to meet basic obligations such as rent and school fees.
The acting spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, acknowledged the issue and assured that the ministry was working on a resolution.
He expressed optimism that once President Bola Tinubu signs the recently passed 2025 Appropriation Act into law, it would positively impact the finances of the ministry and the missions abroad.
Despite increased budgetary allocations in recent years, Nigerian missions continue to face severe funding shortages. The ministry spent ₦251.71 billion on salaries over four years, with personnel costs increasing annually.
Additionally, ₦53 billion has been earmarked for the renovation of 103 foreign missions in 2025.
The funds are meant for chanceries, staff quarters, ambassadors’ residences, office furniture, and official vehicles. Some of the allocations include:
