Photo: Sen. Victor Umeh, Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisation welcoming Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) to maiden interactive session with the Committee in Abuja.
Concerned about the lean budgetary allocation to Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Senator Victor Umeh, Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora Affairs and Non-Governmental Organizations has assured of the Senate support to the commission in
achieving its set objectives.
Umeh gave the assurance when the committee met with Hon. Abike
Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NIDCOM and top management staff in a
maiden interactive session on the activities of the Commission.
The Senator alongside other members of the Committee like Sen. Seriake
Dickson, Sen. Ibrahim Dakwambo, expressed surprise with the meagre
budgetary allocation to the Commission despite its visible activities
and interventions in the diaspora affairs.
He said the committee invitation to the Chairman/CEO was to brief it to
know more about the Commission, its challenges and prospects as well
as other areas of possible assistance especially during appropriation
period.
While commending Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa for her dynamism and prudency
in turning around the commission and giving Nigeria a positive image
despite paucity of funds, the lawmaker asked her to brief it on the poor
treatment of Nigerians in Ethiopia prisons.
In her briefing, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa expressed her heartfelt
gratitude for the necessary support and collaborative spirit
demonstrated by the committee over the years, which had kept the
commission going in spite of the challenges facing it.
Dabiri-Erewa highlighted some of the major programmes and achievements
of the Commission since inception four years ago as well as challenges
facing it.
She listed the approval of the Diaspora Policy by the Federal Executive
Council, the establishment of the Diaspora Data Mapping Portal, the
annual Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit, National Diaspora Day,
Badagry Door of Return, the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Trust Fund,
Diaspora Focal Point Officers, Diaspora Presidential Town Hall Meeting
and National Diaspora Merit Awards, among others.
The NIDCOM boss, however, listed low budgetary allocation, lack of
office accommodation and paucity of funds have greatly affected the
optimal performance of the Commission.
On Nigerians languishing in Ethiopia prisons, she said efforts were made
in the past to decongest the prisons through a Memorandum of
Understanding between Nigeria and Ethiopia but it was not concluded
before the last administration ended, saying most Nigerians in the
prisons were caught for carrying drugs and involved in fraudulent acts.
