Foreign Affairs Minister, Tuggar, diplomats in cold war over return date

Nigerian Ambassadors and High Commissioners in various Foreign Missions appear to be on a collision course with the Foreign Affairs Minister, Amb. Yusufu Tuggar over the return date for the recalled diplomats.

DAILY POST reports that there has been conflicting information on the return date of the recalled diplomats.

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had on September 2, announced the recall of the ambassadors and high commissioners and gave them up until October 31 to return home.

However, the Ambassadors made passionate appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for extension of the return date to December 31, to enable their wards take their promotion exams and consequently streamline the academic calendar in order not to truncate their education by dropping a year.

The Ambassadors’ appeal seemed to have received the President’s nod, only for the Foreign Affairs Minister, Tuggar, to announce last week that there was no such tenure extension for the ambassadors till December 31, insisting that the October 31 terminal date remains “sacrosanct”.

Irked by the Minister’s rigid position and apparent lack of consideration for the educational plight of their children, the ambassadors are reported to be ready for a serious showdown.

The situation is said to be made worse by the alleged financial crunch being faced by the foreign missions, including threats by various service providers to take them to court for non-payment of service charges.

Sources from the Foreign Missions claimed that funding for the Missions since the last five months has been problematic.

The Ambassadors consequently raised alarm calling on President Tinubu to intervene before the entire nation was embarrassed.

But since the news of the extension of the October deadline filtered into the media, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, not only debunked the report but went further to place embargo on the foreign Missions’ Accounts for what he described as “to check frivolous spending by the Ambassadors”.

The Minister in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communication, Alkasim Abdulkadre claimed that there was no directive from the Presidency to extend the exit date of the Ambassadors.

But a source close to the Foreign Missions insisted, “the Minister cannot claim that there is no extension of the deadline and at the same time it was reported in various national reputable media outfits.”

Meanwhile the Ambassadors have queried the true intension of the Minister and why he appears to be in a hurry to dispense with them even when it will take not less than four to six months to replace them.

They are also worried that the Minister in the said statement by his aide was quoted as saying that the Presidency was not convinced on the excuse given to extend the stay of the Ambassadors.

The Ambassadors are therefore asking questions as to whether the education of their children and wards, as well as financial bankruptcy were not enough reasons for such extension.

Other concerned Nigerians who have been following the development have also weighed into the matter.

An International Relations Consultant, Dr. Bright lheme frowned at the disposition of the Minister in that regard, pointing out that such statement could mean direct accusation on Mr President.

Iheme, in a telephone chat with DAILY POST correspondent, further queried whether the presidency is not really bothered that the children of over 109 Nigerian families will waste their full academic year, whereas any responsible government places premium concerns to the acceleration of its citizens’ education.

He wondered why Alhaji Tuggar, who was until his present appointment, an Ambassador, who ought to have deployed his weight of experience in the management of the Foreign Affairs Ministry in positive directions, could place personal ego above that of the nation which according to him “runs contrary to the oath of allegiance which he swore to”.

Iheme further noted that the Foreign Service Regulation provides three months notice to diplomats to wind up at post when recalled but in the contrary two months was given to the Ambassadors and wondered what could be his reasons.

Meanwhile, observers strongly believe that the fate of the Ambassadors now rests squarely on the political will of President Tinubu to consider their plight and weigh in decisively to stave off the impending embarrassment.