By Ahmed Akanbi

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has expressed concern over the welfare of Nigerian diplomats serving overseas, revealing that some have had to pull their children out of school because of unpaid salaries and allowances.

Akpabio raised the issue on Wednesday during the Senate’s screening of Ambassador Sola Enikanolaye for the position of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

“It has come to our notice that children of Nigerian diplomats serving in various countries abroad have been withdrawn from school because their parents cannot afford to pay their school fees,” he said.

He attributed the situation to the Federal Government’s failure to settle entitlements owed to the affected diplomats.

“These diplomats can’t pay their children’s school fees because their salaries and allowances are not being paid by the Nigerian government,” Akpabio said.

While he did not name the countries involved, he described the situation as “pathetic” and said it demands urgent attention, stressing that his comments were not an indictment of the government, and urged the nominee to explain how he would address the problem if confirmed.

Ambassador Enikanolaye, a career diplomat with over three decades of service including a posting in Canada, was confirmed after presenting his professional record.