Hon. Buba Inaugurates Sub-committee to Tackle Rot in Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Mission
The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, Tuesday, inaugurated four Sub- Committees to tackle what is perceived as the deep rot at the nation’ s Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters and at the Foreign Missions.
In a statement signed by Nkem Anyata-Lafia, Special Adviser to the Committee Chairman on Media and Public Affairs, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, condemned in strong terms all the continuous sad assaults on Nigeria’s image abroad, stressing that it had become necessary to revamp the poor image Nigeria and Nigerians continue to carry about anywhere they are seen across the world.
He lamented the fact that even the Diplomatic Passport of the country’ s Officials have become worthless in the eyes of officials and other citizens of the world, who daily treat Nigerians with disdain in their countries.
He pointed out that some of our Embassies/High Commissions do not accord Nigerians the necessary quality consular services and respect they desire, while also stressing the general lack of effective coordination of activities in most of these Embassies and High Commissions.
“Foreign Missions cannot even pay the school fees of foreign mission staff’s children and wards. They owe rents, ground rents and utility bills on properties Nigeria either owns or the Foreign Mission is renting”, he said.
He promised to leave no stone unturned in the Committee’s quest to ensure that funds are applied to what they have been allocated and that things work better at the Foreign Missions, urging the necessary Committees to carry out all the needful in order to achieve results.
Hon. Buba, also used the occasion to call on all Nigerians outside the shores of our country to always do the right things, knowing that they remain Ambassadors of our nation.
He also enjoined them to always register with the Embassies/ High Commissions whenever they arrive a country.
Hon. Buba, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the funds released to actualise the reforms the President had earlier approved in the Ministry and at the Foreign Missions, adding that the Committee would through its oversight ensure that the funds would be judiciously used.
The lawmaker stated that the inauguration of the four (4) Sub- Committees in the House was to ensure that hope returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The most important Ministry in any nation is the Foreign Affairs ministry as the entire world has become a global village and the perception of the world would always be necessary to drive the country’s economy and general progress.
The inaugurated Sub- Committees include the following:
1.The Sub- Committee on the Investigation of Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Finances in the Headquarters, Missions and the Implementation of Approved Reforms by Mr.President. This is headed by Hon. Kasimu Maigari;
2.The Sub- Committee on Foreign Missions’ Liabilities and Interventions, which is headed by Hon. Ahmed Jaha.
- The Sub- Committee on Missions Properties Abroad, which is headed by Hon.Miriam Onuoha.
- The Sub- Committee on Retreat and International Conference, which is headed by the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Timehin Adelegbe.
Accepting the mandate to head his own Sub- Committee, Hon. Maigari said he would do whatever was necessary to succeed.
He pointed out that there had been a reform in the past in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the Obasanjo Administration, but its intended gains were overshadowed by the internal resistance witnessed at the time.
He promised not to witch hunt anyone, but also assured that the Sub- Committee would spare none in its activities.
Hon. Jaha said the treatments that are daily meted out on Nigerians across the world are public knowledge. While promising to do the needful in the course of the Sub- Committee’ s investigations, the lawmaker assured all that members of the Sub- Committee would justify the confidence reposed in them.
Communicating her willingness to chair her own Sub- Committee, Hon.( Princess) Miriam Onuoha thanked the Foreign Hon. Buba for providing members the opportunity to earn and showcase knowledge.
She said the issues emanating from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were worrisome, especially coming at a time Mr. President had just demonstrated unusual magnanimity at tackling underlying problems bedevilling the Ministry.
While promising to deliver on the mandate given to him and members of the Sub- Committee on Retreat and International Conference, Hon.Timehin Adelegbe said the whole intention was to ensure that the Nigerian State became better.
He said the nation’s foreign policy and so many of the basis for engagements with the outside world were in dire need of total overhaul and that the Sub- Committee would do its best to drive the process of systemic reviews that would place the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the right pedestal to achieve targetted results.
