The Nigerian Senate has intensified its demand for an autonomous budgetary allocation for the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), advocating the separation of its budget from the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Senator Victor Umeh, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diasporial and Non-Governmental Organisations, emphasized the necessity for an independent budget while presenting the committee’s budget defense report before the Appropriation Committee in Abuja.
Stressing the significance of NIDCOM in catering to the needs of Nigerians in the diaspora, Senator Umeh highlighted that the commission, established by an act of the National Assembly, deserves a distinct budget, as do other agencies with similar status.
“Notwithstanding the substantial contributions made by Nigerians in the diaspora, amounting to $24 billion remitted to Nigeria in 2022, the current allocation to NIDCOM remains insufficient to fulfill its mandate,” Senator Umeh remarked.
He underscored the pressing needs and challenges faced by Nigerians abroad, citing the commission’s inadequate funding hindering its capacity to provide necessary supervision and attention.
Senator Umeh advocated for additional funding, particularly to organize Diasporia Investment Summits across several countries, fostering partnerships between Nigerians abroad and various levels of government for investment opportunities. He emphasized the economic value of such summits and their alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
“The Diasporial Investment Summit holds immense economic potential. The $24 billion remitted in 2022 alone underscores the economic significance of engaging with Nigerians in the diaspora,” Senator Umeh asserted.
Highlighting the urgent need to address the substantial challenges faced by NIDCOM, the senator noted that the current budgetary allocation restricts the commission’s ability to seek solutions abroad effectively.
To address these challenges, the committee approved the inclusion of five new line items totaling N1 billion from the proposed N2.5 billion budget for approval by the appropriation committee.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, echoed the need for increased funding to enable NIDCOM to fulfill its responsibilities adequately. He assured that the committee would prioritize advocating for enhanced budgetary provisions when reporting to the Senate.
