Nigerian Embassy Staff Globally Owed Months of Unpaid Salaries

By Olori Wendy | September 9, 2025

Workers at Nigerian embassies and consulates across the globe are reportedly facing severe financial hardship due to unpaid salaries, with some staff members going without pay for up to seven months.

Sources say that staff at the Nigerian House in New York are among those worst affected, with some employees owed five months' wages, while others are reportedly awaiting payments dating back seven months. The minimum backlog is said to be three months.

The financial strain is particularly acute as many of these workers live in high-cost countries where rent, utilities, and daily expenses are billed monthly. Without their regular income, several staff members are reportedly struggling to cover basic living expenses, with some allegedly resorting to borrowing or soliciting help just to get by.

“This is unprecedented,” said one staff member who requested anonymity due to fear of reprisal. “No previous administration allowed this situation to deteriorate this far.”

While junior staff grapple with mounting bills and delayed salaries, diplomatic heads, including ambassadors, continue to reside in government-funded housing and remain largely unaffected by the crisis, further fueling frustration among embassy workers.

Calls are mounting for urgent intervention from the Nigerian government to resolve the issue, ensure prompt payment of outstanding wages, and prevent further deterioration of morale within Nigeria’s diplomatic missions.

As of press time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not issued an official statement on the matter.