The House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs has demanded an explanation from the Nigeria Immigration Service after discovering that immigration attachés in diplomatic missions abroad have gone unpaid for over 15 months.
Nigerian immigration attachés posted to diplomatic missions across the globe have reportedly gone unpaid for over 15 months, leading to severe financial distress among officers responsible for vital consular services. According to reports from SaharaReporters, the affected personnel, who manage visa processing and passport services at over 100 embassies, are facing such extreme hardship that some have been forced to send their families back to Nigeria. The crisis was formally brought to light following an oversight visit by the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, which confirmed that officers have been denied their official allocations throughout the 2024 and 2025 budget cycles.
In a strongly worded letter dated February 12, 2026, the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Oluwole Oke, demanded an immediate explanation from the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service. The committee noted that the non-payment has crippled the operational efficiency of foreign missions and created a shortage of personnel in critical locations. Reviewing the implementation of previous budgets, the lawmakers stated: “Immigration attachés across various missions are being owed allocations from 2024–2025,” emphasizing that this neglect undermines the country’s foreign policy objectives and general morale within the service.
The legislative committee warned that the prolonged neglect of these officers is damaging Nigeria’s international image and could jeopardize bilateral relations. Beyond the personal suffering of the officers, the lack of funding has reportedly hindered the embassy’s ability to provide timely documentation services for Nigerians and foreign investors alike. Seeking a resolution ahead of the 2026 budget considerations, the committee insisted that the Comptroller General provide a clear roadmap for clearing the arrears, noting that the current situation “negatively affected the performance and efficiency of Nigeria’s foreign missions.”
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