The House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs has promised to ensure an increased budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. ( Dr.) Yusuf Buba Yakub, gave the assurance when the lawmakers undertook an oversight visit to the ministry in Abuja.
Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs to the committee chairman, Nkem Anyata-Lafia made this known on Wednesday.
Buba re-iterated the committee’s call for adequate funding for the ministry, while also stressing that available facts have revealed that,in spite of the revenue the ministry continues to generate, the ministry may as well be running on a zero budget due to the rising naira- dollar exchange rate differential.
He said the committee was glad to, once again, return to the ministry to carry out what he referred to as their constitutionally- mandated role as lawmakers after their visit last year.
He informed the leadership of the ministry that,i n solidarity with their fellow lawmaker, Sen. Philip Aduda and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Amb. Gabriel Tanimu Aduda,whose father’ s burial obsequies were scheduled for Thursday this week, the committee would merely take a tour of the ministry and defer its question-and-answer session to Friday.
The committee later undertook a tour of the ministry headquarters, taking a close look at both the infrastructure and the state of equipment in place.
Members of the committee, through its chairman, were unanimous in their agreement that there was an over-all physical improvement in the operations and facilities of the ministry this year.
They commended the ministry’ s leadership and management for their efforts.
Earlier while welcoming members of the House Committee to the ministry headquarters, the Minister of State, Amb. Zubairu Dada, observed the high act of patriotism that has been demonstrated by members of the committee.
He said the committee had, in many ways, sought to improve the conditions of the ministry by even undertaking self- sponsored visits to missions across the world to acquaint themselves with problems of the missions worldwide.
He also used the occasion to convey to the lawmakers the apologies of the Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama.
He said Onyeama had accompanied Mr President to the 26th Edition of the Climate Change Conference holding in Glasgow, Scotland,United Kingdom and was, therefore, unavoidably absent.
He also added that the Honourable Minister was aware of the visit and would be properly briefed on his return to the country.
Among members of the committee, who attended the event, were Hon. Timehin Adelegbe, Deputy Chairman,Hon. Musa Bagos,Hon. Princess Miriam Onuoha,Hon. James Owolabi Adisa as well as Hon. Aliyu Datti Yako.
Others include: Hon. Cornelius Nnaji,Hon.Blessing Onu,Hon. Moshood Kayode Akiolu,Hon.Adewunmi Onanuga as well as Hon.Mukhtar Ahmed and Hon. Munir Baba Dan’Agundi.
