The Federal Government has acknowledged that several Nigerian diplomatic and consular missions abroad are grappling with financial and operational challenges, including unpaid salaries, rising debts, and difficulties meeting key obligations.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, noting that the challenges have hindered the smooth functioning of embassies and consulates in different countries.

“The ministry is not unaware of the restrictions that financial limitations have placed on the smooth running of the missions, including the inability to pay salaries of locally recruited staff, financial obligations to service providers, rent to landlords, and the foreign service allowance to home-based officers,” the statement read.

“It is pertinent to state, however, that the Nigerian diplomatic missions are not immune to the economic situation at home and its attendant challenges to government operations. The financial situation in our missions stems from budgetary limitations over the years, resulting in shortfalls in allocations.”

Ebienfa assured Nigerians at home and in the diaspora that the welfare of diplomatic staff and their families remains a top priority for the Bola Tinubu administration. He pointed to recent interventions, including the approval and release of special funds to ease the hardship faced by some missions.

The government also said it has set up a committee to assess the debt profiles of affected missions, adding that over 80 per cent of available funds have been cleared for payments, with priority given to service providers, locally recruited staff salaries, and arrears owed to officers.

While stressing that missions are not exempt from the broader economic realities facing the country, the ministry emphasised that years of budgetary shortfalls have significantly hampered their ability to operate effectively and fulfil core diplomatic responsibilities.