Members of the House of Representative Committee on Foreign Affairs on Wednesdaystressed the need for a review of budget for the nation’s embassies and missions abroad.
A four-member sub-committee on oversight function to the Nigerian High Commission said this in London on Wednesday.
The members, who spoke against the backdrop of what they described as “structural challenges?? in the affairs of Nigerian missions abroad, expressed concern over peculiar needs of the missions.
The Leader of the delegation, Nkoyo Toyo, said that a review of the budget would ensure adequate appropriation of funds to suit the peculiar needs of the various missions.
“These are structural problems, it is not about putting money here or there, we have to address issues of balancing needs against the availability of funds.
“Therefore, the budget and structure of foreign missions has to be reviewed. Also we need to ensure that funding for consular assistance is judiciously used,?? she said.
Ibrahim Gusau, who also spoken, said all the embassies visited by the committee had similar challenges with funding, consular and staff welfare.
Gusau said the committee would tailor its report based on observation and challenges of the various missions.
In the same vein, Ibrahim Malle and Ben Nwakwu, said that some missions had money voted in areas that were not necessary, while stressing the need for proper allocation of votes.
They also called for a closer relationship between the High Commission and the Nigerian community.
In his remarks, Oluwatosin Lawal, the Nigeria’s Deputy Ambassador to the UK, told the delegation that the mission had recently been restructured for effective service delivery.
Lawal also gave a brief on the cordial bilateral relations between the both countries, and plans to double trade volume to eight billion pounds by 2014.
