Nigerian Immigration Service officers on foreign missions have been facing severe financial hardships due to unpaid allowances since December. The delay in payments has led to difficulties in covering essential expenses, risking both personal well-being and Nigeria’s diplomatic reputation. Efforts to reach NIS officials for comment have been unsuccessful.

Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) officers stationed abroad are facing severe financial hardships due to the non-payment of their allowances since December last year. Speaking anonymously to Daily Trust, several officers expressed their frustrations and the challenges they faced due to the delay.

One officer revealed that while allowances for October and November 2023 were eventually paid in March this year, the situation has not improved. These allowances, which cover essential expenses such as housing, health, and utilities, are crucial for officers living and working overseas. The officer explained that monthly rent payments in foreign countries, often amounting to $2,000 or more, have become a significant burden.

“We are finding it difficult to cope with responsibilities such as feeding, education, and the provision of necessary family necessities. Things are more expensive in many countries than in Nigeria,” said an aggrieved officer. The requirement to live with their families while on foreign missions, intended to ensure officers’ full commitment to their work, has only compounded their financial struggles.

Another officer expressed frustration over the NIS’s decision to prioritize payments to officers in only two specific countries, leaving others without support. This selective payment strategy has further eroded the financial stability of many officers, risking not just their well-being but also the nation’s diplomatic reputation.

“The mission issues visas to applicants wishing to enter Nigeria for various purposes, facilitating the government’s ease of doing business agenda,” the officer explained. “Our work also supports Nigerians abroad, helping them renew their international passports and offering professional advice. The current situation undermines these efforts and exposes us to unnecessary hardships and potential embarrassment.”

Efforts to reach Kenneth Udo, the Public Relations Officer of NIS, for comment were unsuccessful. Udo responded via text that he was attending a retreat in Abuja and could not speak at the time.

As the situation remains unresolved, the plight of the NIS officers highlights the critical need for prompt and consistent payment of allowances to support the effective functioning of Nigeria’s foreign missions and maintain the nation’s international standing.