Nigerians in Diaspora under the aegis of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (NIDO) have accused the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa of policy inconsistency.
NIDO alleged that the NIDCOM boss was contouring the functions of the Commission away from the Act that established it, in such a manner that indicates the commission was not designed to serve Nigerians in Diaspora.
The allegations were brought forward in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer and Assistant General Secretary, NIDO Europe, Mr. Fidel Wilson.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Organization, in the statement, insisted that other Diaspora Organizations should be included on the board of the Commission.
The statement reminded the NIDCOM that a town hall meeting held in America agreed that representatives of other Diaspora organisations apart from NIDO should reflect on the NIDCOM board.
NIDO further expressed disappointment that the Nigerian Diaspora Commission in its recent statement by the Head of Media and Public Relations, “insisted that the two Representatives of the Diaspora in six continents would come from only one Diaspora organisation.”
NIDO maintained that Abike Dabiri-Erewa’s referral to NIDO as one umbrella body was correct, but noted that it didn’t exclude other well-meaning Nigerians from being brought on board in line with sections of the NIDCOM Act.
Part of the statement read: “Therefore, can Abike Dabiri-Erewa contrast her press statement in Para. 8 of the Press releases with the relevant provisions in page A 186 2017 No. 15.
“The inclusion of two representatives of NIDO from the relevant continents as enshrined in the Act does not in any way exclude the inclusion of other Diaspora organizations and well-meaning Nigerians in Diaspora.“
After all, the Commission was made for Nigerians in Diaspora and not for Nigerians in Nigeria and selected friends of Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
The Nigeria Diaspora Commission was established in 2017 with the appointment of Abike Dabiri-Erewa as the pioneer Chairman/Chief Executive Officer.