6th-R: RMAFC Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, 7th-L: S A to the President on Foreign Affairs, Amb. Oluremi Olumide, 5th-R: Permanent Secretary Foreign Affairs, Dr. Dunoma Umar Ahmed and other dignitries at the Presidential Technical Working Group on the Funding Challenges of Nigerian Foreign Missions held at the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja.
The Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, OFR, has called for a sustainable, transparent and predictable funding framework for Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad, as he chaired the inaugural meeting of the Presidential Technical Working Group on the Review of Funding Arrangements for the country’s foreign missions.
The meeting held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, followed a presidential directive dated October 14, 2026, authorising a comprehensive fiscal and technical review of existing funding arrangements in collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government to adress persistent financial challenges bedeviling the nation’s diplomatic missions.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Shehu expressed profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for the timely intervention, noting that the President was particularly committed to finding a lasting solution to the problem.
Emphasising the President’s expectations, the RMAFC Chairman stated that, “Mr President is very passionate about this exercise. So he expects us to come up with something that is workable, that can be implemented and that can solve this problem once and for all.” He consequently charged members of the Working Group to approach the assignment with a clear sense of purpose and commitment to producing recommendations that would translate into practical policy outcomes.
Describing the strategic importance of Nigeria’s diplomatic missions, Dr. Shehu observed that they are “The enduring symbols of our sovereignty and the foremost instruments of our international engagement.” He explained that these missions serve as critical platforms for protecting the interests and welfare of Nigerians abroad, strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations, advancing trade and investment, and projecting the dignity and aspirations of the country.
He cautioned that their capacity to discharge these responsibilities should not be undermined by recurrent uncertainty in the provision and administration of essential resources.
According to him, the Commission’s concern arose from observations during official study engagements and interactions with personnel of Nigerian missions in several countries, which highlighted the operational consequences of funding constraints and the need for a more dependable institutional response.
Situating RMAFC’s involvement within its constitutional mandate, Dr. Shehu cited Paragraph 32(c), Part I of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which empowers the Commission to advise the Federal and State Governments on fiscal efficiency and methods of increasing revenue. He stressed that the Commission’s intervention was intended to complement, and not to encroach upon, the statutory responsibilities of other institutions. “Rather, we seek to complement these responsibilities by bringing together the necessary fiscal, administrative and operational expertise in pursuit of a common national objective,” he stated.
The Chairman disclosed that the presidential directive of October 14, 2026, mandates the Working Group to undertake a comprehensive fiscal and technical review and submit its report, together with a programme of action for implementation, not later than December 11, 2026.
Outlining the key issues before the Working Group, Dr. Shehu charged members to undertake a candid assessment of existing funding arrangements, identify the underlying causes of financial instability, evaluate appropriate alternatives and recommend a framework that is transparent, predictable, affordable and sustainable within the realities of Nigeria’s public finances.
He advised against limiting the proposed solution to increased budgetary appropriations, emphasising that the review must also examine the timeliness and predictability of fund releases, budget formulation and execution, foreign exchange measures, expenditure management and the prioritisation of critical diplomatic commitments.
He further encouraged members to draw from relevant international experiences while ensuring that proposed solutions reflect Nigeria’s peculiar constitutional, legal and institutional circumstances.
To ensure the credibility and practical value of the exercise, the RMAFC Chairman identified three guiding principles: evidence-based conclusions anchored on reliable financial, budgetary and operational data; inclusive deliberations that draw on the mandates and practical experiences of all participating institutions; and recommendations that are implementable, legally sound and responsive to prevailing fiscal constraints.
He emphasised that the assignment should not be viewed as an inquiry into institutional shortcomings or an exercise in apportioning blame, but as a constructive effort to achieve greater coherence across government and establish a durable funding arrangement commensurate with Nigeria’s diplomatic responsibilities and international standing.
Dr. Shehu further outlined the immediate priorities of the Working Group to include the agreement on clear Terms of Reference, development of a structured work plan, identification of specific information and documentation required from participating institutions, and determination of modalities for wider stakeholder consultations.
He stressed that the final report must go beyond identifying existing challenges and charged members to present evaluated funding options, recommend a preferred course of action and provide a practical implementation framework specifying timelines, institutional responsibilities and necessary administrative or legal measures.
While calling for the full cooperation of all participating institutions, the Chairman urged them to accord the exercise the priority it deserved and ensure timely access to reliable information, as well as adequate institutional support for their representatives. He assured members that RMAFC would provide the necessary secretariat coordination and technical support to facilitate the assignment.
Expressing confidence in the capacity of the Working Group to deliver on its mandate, Dr. Shehu stated that he expected the collective experience and professional expertise of its members to produce a report for presidential consideration that would be rigorous in analysis, measured in its recommendations and realistic in its implementation.
He reiterated that Nigeria’s diplomatic presence abroad could not be sustained by ceremony alone, but depended on the institutional capacity to honour the country’s obligations, safeguard its personnel, respond to the needs of its citizens and engage international partners with confidence. He therefore underscored the importance of balancing the operational requirements of foreign missions with fiscal discipline, accountability and prudent management of public resources.
RMAFC Federal Commissioners present at the meeting included Hon. Ibrahim Bako Shettima (Niger State); Hon. (Barr.) Rakiya Tanko Ayuba Haruna, mni (Kebbi State); Amb. (Prof.) Steve Ugba (Benue State); Amb. Ayuba Jacob Ngbako (Federal Capital Territory); Hon. Muhammed Kabir Mashi, OON (Katsina State); and Hon. (Dr.) Enefe Ekene (Anambra State).
Other dignitaries present included the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Dunoma Umar Ahmed, Senior Adviser to the President on Foreign Affairs, Amb. Oluremi Olumide; and the Deputy Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, DCG Franka Halliday, mni. Representatives of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), alongside other stakeholders in attendance.
RMAFC Directors present included Usman Kukandaka Umar, mni, Director, Allocation Department and Secretary of the Presidential Technical Working Group; Mr. Abdullahi Garba, Director, Finance and Accounts; Mr. Ahmed Rufai Gidado, Director, Federation Account Department; and Mr. Mohammed Gidado Yahaya, Director, Chairman’s Office. Also present were the Special Adviser to the RMAFC Chairman on Finance, Mr. Mohammed Auwal Wada, and the Special Adviser to the Chairman on Diversification, Prof. Muhyideen Oyebode.
The inaugural meeting marks the commencement of a coordinated inter-agency effort to develop a sustainable funding framework for Nigeria’s diplomatic missions, strengthen their operational effectiveness and ensure that the country’s international obligations are discharged within a transparent, accountable and fiscally responsible framework.
Maryam Umar Yusuf, mnipr
Head, Information and Public Relations Unit
RMAFC