By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives had mandated it’s Committee on Foreign Affairs to carry out a holistic investigation into the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its missions.
This was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Rep. Ben Etanabene on Thursday at plenary.
Debating the motion, Rep. Etanabene noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a body is recognized by law to ensure the implementation of the Foreign policy objectives of government exercisable through the various Foreign Mission, equally plays other specialized roles that promote and regulate how Nigeria and Nigerians are perceived across the global community, especially through activities in our Embassies and High Commissions which carry out Consular and Diplomatic functions in all areas.
According to him, the government has set in motion reforms for effective service delivery in the Ministry of foreign Affairs, Parastatals and Missions.
The lawmaker further explained that government has put in place a clearly defined Foreign Policy thrust of Democracy, Development, Demography and Diaspora known as 4Ds to usher in a new foreign policy focus for the country.
He expressed concern that the House has taken several steps to ensure that the reforms and policy thrust comes to fruition for the good of the country, but inspite of the efforts of the House, Nigerians around the world are faced with general and urgent Consular Services Challenge.
He said: “Concerned that many Nigerians are illegally held or imprisoned in foreign countries and often under harsh conditions that may lead to loss of lives if urgent actions are not taken.
“Many Nigerians students are stranded in foreign land over issues that can be resolved and that many Nigerians owned businesses around the world helping in contributing to the economy of those countries and sending remittances back home are suffering harassment and sabotage.
“Many Nigerians go through extreme difficulties to secure visas for legitimate travels including Government Officials and Legislators after paying exorbitant visa fees.
“Embassies in a bid to ease visa application processes have resulted to outsourcing the processes to agent whose cost of services are born by Nigerians”.
The lawmaker said several modes of visa applications are in force including express services with huge cost paid by applicants who are sometimes denied visas after such payments.
“Conscious, that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in addition to budgetary allocations, benefits from intervention funds, for running the affairs of the ministry and missions as well as the internally generated revenue by several missions around the world with questions over effective and efficient utilization over the years”, he added.
Rep. Etanabene said that the committee had received several complaints regarding issues of employments in the ministry and missions, appointments, postings, redeployment and disciplinary issues that affect morals and service delivery.
“The country has properties and assets across the world under various missions, many underutilized and several others abandoned which if properly audited and harnessed will enhance efficiency of our Foreign Service Officers and increase the revenue that is generated by the Federal Government.
“A lot of missions, local staff ceiling has been exceeded due to violation of rules and in some instances, the ceiling of Foreign Service Officers. This has further resulted to indebtedness in the respective missions.
“If these issues are not investigated and appropriate and urgent actions taken by the House, it may lead to loss of lives and properties, further difficulties in visa and consular services home and abroad, malfeasance and waste, inefficiency and loss of revenue, poor implementation of the government reforms, 4Ds policy thrust”, he added.
The House unanimously adopted the motion and mandated the Committee of Foreign Affairs to investigate report back within three weeks for further legislative actions.