NIDCOM Chairman Dabiri-Erewa calls for commission to be upgraded to full ministry
Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Ms. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has called for the transformation of the Commission into a full-fledged ministry.
Ms. Dabiri-Erewa said so Thursday when she appeared before the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations for interaction on developments within the agency.
She said the call was necessitated by the Commission's workload, noting that as a 'ministry, it would enable them to support the millions of Nigerian citizens living abroad' .
Earlier, the boss of NiDCOM lamented the scarcity of funds as campaigning against the agency to meet its statutory responsibilities.
According to her, she said her office was finding it difficult to help some Nigerians in critical situations abroad as there was no provision for overseas travel for her officials, revealing that she had not yet been reimbursed for the three trips she recently undertook on behalf of the government.
Dabiri-Erewa said, "It's in law that we should have five diaspora offices, but we don't have money. It's in law, but we don't have money. money.
"Some members of the Diaspora help us when we travel. The Diaspora is the most important thing for Nigeria right now, and I can tell you that we haven't even engaged 10% of our Diaspora."
Talking about NiDCOM's expected overseas offices, she revealed that they are using technology to track events as there are not enough funds to open offices.
She pleaded with the National Assembly to assist so that continental offices can be opened for direct access to Nigerians in the Diaspora.
Meanwhile, members of the Senate Committee, chaired by Senator Michael Nnachi, have suggested that the Technical Aids Corps be under the direct supervision of NiDCOM.
He further advised NiDCOM's legal department to liaise with the National Assembly to amend the law that created it.
He said, “There is a need to transform NiDCOM into a full-fledged ministry. The legal department should start working on revising the law.”
Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Ms. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has called for the transformation of the Commission into a full-fledged ministry.
Ms. Dabiri-Erewa said so Thursday when she appeared before the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations for interaction on developments within the agency.
She said the call was necessitated by the Commission's workload, noting that as a 'ministry, it would enable them to support the millions of Nigerian citizens living abroad' .
Earlier, the boss of NiDCOM lamented the scarcity of funds as campaigning against the agency to meet its statutory responsibilities.
According to her, she said her office was finding it difficult to help some Nigerians in critical situations abroad as there was no provision for overseas travel for her officials, revealing that she had not yet been reimbursed for the three trips she recently undertook on behalf of the government.
Dabiri-Erewa said, "It's in law that we should have five diaspora offices, but we don't have money. It's in law, but we don't have money. money.
"Some members of the Diaspora help us when we travel. The Diaspora is the most important thing for Nigeria right now, and I can tell you that we haven't even engaged 10% of our Diaspora."
Talking about NiDCOM's expected overseas offices, she revealed that they are using technology to track events as there are not enough funds to open offices.
She pleaded with the National Assembly to assist so that continental offices can be opened for direct access to Nigerians in the Diaspora.
Meanwhile, members of the Senate Committee, chaired by Senator Michael Nnachi, have suggested that the Technical Aids Corps be under the direct supervision of NiDCOM.
He further advised NiDCOM's legal department to liaise with the National Assembly to amend the law that created it.
He said, “There is a need to transform NiDCOM into a full-fledged ministry. The legal department should start working on revising the law.”
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