Tinubu set to submit ambassadorial nominees for Senate screening in December

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to submit the list of ambassadorial nominees to the Nigerian Senate for screening and confirmation in the coming days.

The list, which will include ambassadors and high commissioners to represent Nigeria in various countries and multilateral organizations, is anticipated to be sent to the Senate in early December.

This move follows the recall of 83 ambassadors in September 2023, 14 months ago. Nigeria currently maintains 109 missions worldwide, including 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates. The vacancies created by the ambassadorial recall have left a significant diplomatic gap.

On November 21, 2024, the Federal Government began deploying consular officers to diplomatic missions around the globe in preparation for the expected ambassadorial list. President Tinubu, currently on a state visit to France at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron, will continue his diplomatic tour with a visit to South Africa, marking his second trip there since attending President Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration in June.

When President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, he initiated a review of Nigeria’s foreign policy, which led to the recall of the 83 ambassadors. These envoys, both career and non-career, were instructed to return by October 31, 2023, but their positions have remained vacant since then, creating a diplomatic void.

Under Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended), the President has the authority to appoint ambassadors, but the appointments require Senate confirmation. On March 25, 2024, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar confirmed that the Ministry had forwarded a list of potential career diplomats to the President for consideration. While it remains unclear whether the nominees are career or political diplomats, there are indications that the President favors the former.

Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, clarified that the ambassadorial list would consist of both career and political ambassadors. He noted that the list is still undergoing a thorough vetting process before it is finalized.

A government official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the timeline for the ambassadorial appointments: “The list will be submitted to the Senate President, who will then announce it. After submission, the Senate will publish the list the following day.”

In April 2024, the government appointed 12 consuls-general and five chargés d’affaires to represent Nigeria in 14 countries. While these roles carry diplomatic authority, they do not hold the same status as high-level ambassadorial positions.

Budget constraints have also been a contributing factor to the delay in the ambassadorial appointments. In May, the Minister of Foreign Affairs cited funding issues as the cause of the delay, while a former ministry spokesperson suggested that the timing of the appointments would depend on budget allocations.

A senior Foreign Service official indicated that while the list may be finalized in early December, the deployment of the nominees could take several months. “It’s long overdue. Once the Senate screens and approves the appointments, the host countries will conduct their background checks before accepting the new ambassadors,” the official explained.

Reports suggest that a senior official from the President’s media team is among those being considered for an ambassadorial role. Other possible nominees include a founder of a major bank, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, and the Speaker of a House of Assembly in northern Nigeria.

The delay in appointing new ambassadors has raised concerns about Nigeria’s diplomatic effectiveness. “Many important decisions are on hold because our embassies are still waiting for new diplomats. Major international meetings are taking place without Nigerian representation at the highest levels,” an official commented.