Reps C’ttee directs Minister to submit records on utilisation of funds by foreign missions Commends Tinubu for 2025 financial interventions

By our Correspondent

The House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs has directed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and Heads of Missions to submit detailed records on the utilisation of appropriated funds by Nigeria’s foreign missions for the year 2025.

In a letter dated July 24, 2025, and signed by its Chairman, Hon. Oluwole Oke, the Committee invoked Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to demand full disclosure of how the appropriated funds were utilised by the missions.

Nigeria’s foreign missions have, over the years, suffered inadequate funding, resulting in poor consular services to Nigerians abroad and recurring allegations of corruption among some officials.

Earlier in 2025, the Oke-led Committee had commenced an investigation into a contract scandal involving the alleged mismanagement of $2 million earmarked for the renovation of Nigeria’s Permanent Representative’s residence to the United Nations in New York.

The letter addressed to the Minister and Heads of Missions read in part:

> “The Missions are required to furnish the following documents: approved budget of the missions from 2024 to 2025; budget performance for the same years; record of special interventions released to the missions and their applications between 2018 and 2025; and the staff nominal roll for both home-based and local staff.

The Honourable Minister is kindly requested to bring the content of this letter to all Heads of Missions.”

A separate letter dated July 3, 2025, and signed by the Director of Funds on behalf of the Accountant-General of the Federation, revealed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration released a total of $54 million to fund the operations of the country’s 103 embassies and high commissions.

According to the document, $46.14 million was allocated for overhead costs, $9.58 million for personnel costs, and $282,829 for other overhead expenditures.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Hon. Oke commended President Tinubu for the intervention and urged the Minister and Heads of Missions to provide comprehensive details on how the funds were disbursed and utilised.

“We commend the President for his timely intervention and commitment to revitalising our foreign missions. This will go a long way in projecting a positive image for Nigeria,” Oke stated.

“We also urge the missions to appear before the Committee and explain how the intervention funds have been utilised. Transparency and accountability are fundamental to good governance,” he added.

A breakdown of the allocations showed that the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs received $5.89 million; the Nigerian Embassy in Moscow, $1.96 million; Rome, Italy, $2.82 million; Vienna, $1.09 million; and Athens, $1.04 million.

Other beneficiaries include the Embassies in Tel Aviv ($1.8 million), Addis Ababa ($1.92 million), Madrid ($1.23 million), Tehran/Abu Dhabi ($1.18 million), and the Consulates in Jeddah ($1.48 million) and Dubai ($1.26 million).

According to Oke, the Committee’s actions are not driven by a witch-hunt but by the need to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.

> “The Committee is not out to witch-hunt anyone; we are simply responding to the need to make governance work for Nigeria and Nigerians,” he said.