Abuja, Jan. 17, 2025 — The Joint National Assembly Committee on Diaspora Affairs has lauded the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) for its remarkable performance, despite operating with extremely limited resources.
During the 2024 Budget Performance Review and presentation of the 2025 Budget proposal by NiDCOM Chairman/CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in Abuja, the committee pledged to push for increased funding and the establishment of a Diaspora Plaza to support the Commission’s activities.
Presiding over the joint session, Senator Victor Umeh, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora Affairs and NGOs, highlighted the significant gap between NiDCOM’s 2024 budget and the proposed 2025 allocation. He stressed the urgent need for greater financial support and infrastructure development, noting that the Commission’s work is critical to Nigeria’s national development.
Senator Umeh commended Hon. Dabiri-Erewa for her prudent leadership, which he said has bolstered diaspora engagement despite the Commission’s limited resources. He also acknowledged the increase in diaspora remittances and investments, attributing these gains to NiDCOM’s efforts.
Other committee members, including Senators Ezenwa Onyenwuchi, Ibrahim Dakwambo, Onawo Ogoshi, and Hon. Auwalu Abdu Gwalabe, discussed critical issues such as external funding, diaspora data mapping, and internal conflicts within the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO). They unanimously agreed that NiDCOM is underfunded and resolved to advocate for a budget revision to better support its core mandates.
During her presentation, Dabiri-Erewa reported a 99% execution rate for NiDCOM’s 2024 budget of ₦263,125,368. However, she lamented that no releases were made from the capital budget of ₦1,685,630,449 by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
For 2025, the proposed budget includes ₦363,943,894 for salaries, ₦377,098,274 for overhead costs, and ₦541,037,512 for personnel expenses. Dabiri-Erewa outlined the Commission’s strategic priorities for 2025, including enhancing diaspora engagement, increasing capacity-building for personnel, and improving infrastructure to support investment and welfare programs.
She also emphasized the need for a dedicated Diaspora Plaza, which would serve both as NiDCOM’s headquarters and a hub for Nigerians abroad visiting home.
Addressing external funding concerns, Dabiri-Erewa revealed that the Commission relies heavily on sponsorships and partnerships from organizations for major events, as it currently receives no external funding or grants. She expressed optimism that plans for diaspora data mapping and the development of a physical structure for accurate data collection are underway.
On conflicts within NIDO chapters, Dabiri-Erewa urged for unity and called on the National Assembly committees on diaspora to mediate, emphasizing that internal disputes hinder positive development.
The NiDCOM Chairman expressed gratitude to the Joint Committee for its unwavering support and reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to fulfilling its mandate.
E-signed:
Abdur-Rahman Balogun
Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, NiDCOM.
