By Tony Icheku

 It appears the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has abandoned several diplomats who had completed their Tour of Duty and replaced without paying their entitlements and making arrangements for their return home

 The diplomats and their families are now homeless and stranded in cities like New York, Washington, Caracas and other cities.

 Following  the expiration of their Tour of Duty and retirement, the diplomats  have sent a save our soul message to the Federal Government plusb the National Assembly to urge the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate their return.

 Theledgerng.com reports that some  of the countries where the  diplomats were stranded include New York (Permanent Mission),  Washington, Caracas, Brasilia, Hanoi, Luanda, Bucharest, Havana, amongst others.

 In a telephone interview with theledgerng.com, one of the diplomats who would not want his name in print for fear of victimisation, lamented that their families have been subjected to severe suffering in the foreign land after they were disengaged from their national assignments.

 He said they can no longer afford their rents nor sustain their children in school.
The diplomat  explained that a recent Cirtel by the Deputy Director in charge of posting, Mr S.O. Olaniyan had "mandated the affected diplomats to handover to their successor where applicable and were further directed to disengage from their mission's activities."

 He added that the Cirtel further directed that the affected officers should cease to be paid their Foreign Services Allowance effective from August 31, 2017 not minding that these officers worked till October 2017 and are living in rented apartments.

 Equally, the diplomat further lamented that the Authority to Incurs Expenses (AIE) sent to the missions since June 2016 were not cash backed thus compounding the plight of the affected officers.

 The source disclosed that the officers are ready to return home so that their children/wards can return to school adding that this has been made difficult because the Ministry has not sent fund, their air tickets and shipment of their belongings.