- Set to Send List to Senate Upon Return
- DSS Finalizes Vetting of Nominees
By Abiola Olawale
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is reportedly set to forward a list of ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation upon his return from a diplomatic state visit to Saint Lucia, and participation at the BRICKS Summit in Brazil, the New Diplomat has exclusively gathered.
Sources disclose that on the potential list is the name of the widow of the late forrner Governor of Oyo State, Chief Abiola Ajimobi, Mrs Florence Ajomobi.
Checks by The New Diplomat revealed that prior to President Tinubu’s departure for Saint Lucia, on Saturday, the list of potential ambassadors made-up of both career and non-career had already been vetted by officials of the Department of State Services.
The source revealed that the President had forwarded the list of his ambassadorial nominees to the Department of State Services (DSS) for a comprehensive vetting.
According to the source, this customary action underscores the federal government’s commitment to ensuring that only qualified and credible individuals represent Nigeria on the global stage.
“The vetting process is rigorous and designed to ensure that only individuals of impeccable character and capability represent Nigeria abroad,” the source stated.
The source also revealed that Mrs Florence Ajimobi, the wife of late Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Pedro, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, and Fola Adeola, Co-Founder of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank Plc) are among prominent names topping the list.
The source added that the list includes a mix of seasoned diplomats, technocrats, former governors, and some prominent political figures.
“I don’t want to mention the names. The vetted list has been returned to the President and Mrs Ajimobi’s name is there. Hopefully, the President will, in turn, send the names to the National Assembly for screening and confirmation upon his return from Brazil.”
Speaking also on the delay in putting forward ambassadorial nominees, the source revealed that some officials didn’t brief the president properly that ambassadors don’t typically get any special budget, making the President to believe that Ambassadors need a different budget to be deployed to various posts abroad.
” So they thought in addition to the monthly money, which is statutory for payment of salaries, utilities, local staff at missions, that Ambassadors need some special budget, which is not the case. They money the Embassies still receive till date, is where all officers, including the Ambassador, are paid their monthly stipends.
” So, even if there is no Ambassador at a mission, the Mission still receives its monthly allocation. So nothing extra as it is the same amount of monthly overhead which the Embassy diligently manages. The only money you pay an ambassador just like the other officers posted is transportation fare to post and back upon expiration of term or recall.”
Recall that this development comes two years after Tinubu recalled all career and non-career ambassadors in September 2023, leaving Nigeria’s foreign missions without substantive heads for two years.
Experts say this is the first time in the history of Nigeria that the country’s diplomatic missions are left without substantive heads of missions to two years, at least, for now.
