FG to Reintroduce Undersecretaries into Its Foreign Policy Administration

*Tuggar insists constitutional governance solution to terrorism

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Nigeria has concluded plans to appoint undersecretaries as part of its foreign policy, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar has said.
Tuggar also said the threat to peace from terrorism and irridentism in the Sahel could only be countered with a solid foundational basis of constitutional governance, strong democratic institutions and an alliance of democratic countries in the region.

The minister, who said plans were underway to reintroduce undersecretaries, noted that it was to enable the federal government achieve the set foreign policy agenda under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Tuggar made the disclosure while presenting a paper: “The Foreign Policy Agenda under the Tinubu Administration” at the Annual Lecture of the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN) yesterday in Abuja.
He explained that Tinubu’s 4Ds foreign policy (Democracy, Diaspora, Demography and Development) could be attained in a technology-driven foreign affairs ministry with appropriate bureaucracy.

The minister noted that, “None of these (4Ds) will be possible without reforming our workplace – the Ministry into a technology-driven environment with the right bureaucracy to achieve our smart objectives.
“The reform is already in place and we are improving the working terms and conditions of the ministry’s staff.
“We also intend to bring back the system of undersecretaries in the New Year, with the return of several senior ambassadors,” he said.
He stressed that Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives still existed and were entailed in the country’s constitution.

“With regards to Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives, they exist and remain immovable because they are enshrined in our constitution.
“They are to promote and protect Nigeria’s national interest, to promote African integration and support African unity, promote international co-operation for the consolidation of universal peace and mutual respect among all nations and elimination of discrimination in all its manifestations.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda that catalogued President Bola Tinubu’s promises to Nigerians during the Presidential campaign further elucidated three objectives: to protect against all forms of external aggression; promote the best possible outcomes for Nigeria in all engagements with other nations; improve Nigeria’s standing and dignity among the comity of nations,” he said.

On reemergence of coup d’etat in West Africa, the minister noted that the illusion that military regimes might be better equipped to fight terrorists and separatists remained just that, stressing that soldiers were prone to turning their guns on each other instead of terrorists, in their contestation for control of the capital metropolis.
“This leaves the periphery and border areas more at the mercy of non-state actors, creating more insecurity and instability to neighbouring countries and the region as a whole.”

He said many countercoups had been encountered in West Africa and perhaps more to come, adding that Burkina Faso government currently only controls less than 40% of its territory.
He, therefore, said it was incumbent on Nigeria as Africa’s largest democracy (and serendipitously Chair of ECOWAS) to pull its weight with other democracies and constitutional governments to reverse this deadly trend.

In his remarks, the President ARCAN, Amb. John Shinkaiye stated that the formulation and execution of the foreign policy of the country was crucial as decisions made in this aspect of the nation’s governance have far-reaching implications for Nigeria, the West Africa region, the African continent, and even beyond.