Senators Seek Upgrade Of Diaspora Commission To Ministry

Senators yesterday called for the upgrade of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) to full blown ministry.

According to the senators, the upgrade of NIDCOM will enable them to achieve their set objectives and take care of Nigerians in the diaspora.

The lawmakers who also expressed worry over zero allocation for NIDCOM to travel abroad, said they will also work on the electoral act to enable Nigerians in the Diaspora to vote.

The chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Michael Ama Nnachi, said the commission needs to be upgraded to a ministry.

Nnachi said the commission should operate as a ministry and not as a department, urging them to ensure Nigerians are reported on the country’s values.

Speaking, NIDCOM chairman, Abike Dabiri-Eruwa, said the commission’s budget is poor adding that they have not gotten any donation from NGOs.

“Our capital budget is N47 million. But the job is being done because I’ve been trained not to complain. How will there be no subhead for traveling for diaspora commission?

“A lot of time we received people at the airport without funds. We just get collaboration but money doesn’t come to us. We’ve been approaching CBN for the taxes of remittances, that is where we get commission but the CBN is not giving us. We have a desk in Abuja and Lagos airports for the diaspora commission,” Dabiri-Eruwa said, adding that they are worried about the bad eggs outside the country insisting that the problem is not the passport but the behaviour of the people.

On diaspora voting, Dabiri-Eruwa urged the Senate to ensure that it is included in the next amendment.

“We need continental offices in five continents with attachés,” she added.