Outgoing Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ojo Maduekwe has called for severe sanctions against staffers in five of the country’s foreign missions for alleged financial misappropriation.
“Even if you have to persecute them with the approval of the relevant anti-corruption authorities, make sure they are punished because corruption would continue to retard our national progress,” Maduekwe told the Permanent Secretary in the Minister. Dr. Martins Uhomoibi at the hand-over ceremony in the capital city of Abuja Monday.
The former Minister did not name the missions involved nor identify the staffers.
But he said it was unfair that hardworking staff of missions were denied their entitlements because “some people have decided to appropriate the money for themselves.”
Maduekwe reiterated his opposition to calls for the reduction in the number of Nigeria’s missions abroad, saying there is an urgent need for Nigeria to expand its outreach “because diplomacy is about visibility.”
Acting President Goodluck Jonathan dissolved the country’s 42-member cabinet 17 March and directed the Ministers to hand over to their Permanent Secretaries. Efforts are on to constitute a new cabinet.