FG renews commitment to establish Diaspora Commission

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to establish Diaspora Commission in order to properly harness the potentials and benefits of Nigerians abroad for the development of the country.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, said this in Abuja while declaring open the 2018 annual diaspora day/conference.

He disclosed that Nigerians living abroad remitted to the country about $22 billion in 2017, said to be the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa.

He said the Federal Government had already put in place the Diaspora Commission Bill 2017 otherwise known as the Diaspora Commission Act, which establishes the commission to coordinate and organise Nigerians in and from the diaspora to contribute human capital and material resources among other things to the development of the nation.

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Mustapha particularly noted that government was encouraged by the high level of remittances from the Nigerians in diaspora, stressing the need to foster better collaboration with them to fast track the development efforts of the current administration.

Speaking further on the proposed Diaspora Commission, SGF said it was currently receiving attention for implementation, adding that this would also provide database of Nigerians in various fields and potentialities as resource base for Nigeria and the world to draw from, as well as to protect the interest of all Nigerians.

He said the draft national policy on diaspora matters was also undergoing a review by a team of experts in collaboration with the International Organisation on Migration, who were offering technical support.

He added that when finalised, it would be presented to the Federal Executive Council for approval and adoption.

Quoting recent World Bank report, the SGF said: “Nigerians living abroad sent home $22 billion in 2017, the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa, followed by Senegal and Ghana with $2.2 billion respectively for the year, and the fifth highest remittance in the world.

“Due to the huge sums involved in recent years, such remittances are now being recognised as  important contributors to the home country’s growth and development.

“It was with this in mind that the Federal Government thought it wise to institute a day in a year, to come together and assess opportunities and challenges to effective collaborations that would pave way for sustainable engagement with the diaspora for national development,” Mustapha said.

He added that the diaspora community, if well coordinated and harnessed, could lead to even better impact, not only on individual  family unit but also the society at large, saying the funds transferred by the diaspora to their native countries were contributing to improve the living conditions of beneficiaries as well as economic growth of the recipient nations.