STRUCTURE OF NIGERIAN FOREIGN SERVICE.

Structure of ministry of foreign affairs.

       The ministry of foreign affairs is a statutory organ created by the 1999 constitution

of the federal republic of Nigeria, the ministry of foreign affairs can be said to be parent body of Foreign Service, It is charged with primary responsibility, of formulating, articulating and conducting Nigeria’s foreign policy within all levels to promote security, stability and to protect Nigeria’s foreign interest. The ministry of foreign affair   to promote unity and integration both locally and internationally, economic order, peace and security as well as protect Nigeria’s foreign interest in its interactions and relations with other state.

 There are some institutions who are involved in the activities of the ministry of foreign affairs they include:

    Political Executives These are the Hand of Government and his Ministers particularly the Foreign Affairs minister while other ministers assist mainly in ironing out foreign policy and balancing it with domestic policy. These executives perform the relevant clerical functions. Most chief executives are for designated as the commanders in chief of their country's armed forces.                                                                                                              

 Ministries/Bureaucracies: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and similar institutions serve as the link between each country and the outside world. It provides the manpower and the relevant channels of communication for the implementation of foreign policy. Other ministries lend their support if and as at when due.                                                               Diplomatic Corps: These are made up of ambassadors, high commissioners, military advisers and their staff-the clerical. Their job is mainly to pass information from their home government to the host government and vice-versa as regards decisions taken at home that affect the host government and its citizens.                                                                                     

Law Enforcement Agents: They participate in foreign policy execution whether internal or external.

   

Departments in the foreign affairs.

     There exist various departments in the ministry of foreign affairs who work in order to promote the successful outcome of interaction activities:

1.     

          Human resource, inspectorate and management services department: they are in charge of managerial services; it deals with the recruitment, administration, management and training of employees.

2.      Finance and account department: they are responsible for the distribution and regulation of funds.

3.      Planning, research and statistics department: this department is concerned with carrying out statistical operations, planning and research operations.

4.      Ict and public communication: they give out information to members of the public.

5.      Africa 1 department in charge of bi-lateral matters: this department is in charge of managing operations between Nigeria and one other country.

6.      Africa 2 department in charge of multilateral issues: this department is in charge of regulating relationships between Nigeria and other nations.

7.      Department of regions: they are in charge of regulation the affairs between regions,

8.      International organization department WHO, ECOWAS, UN, doctors without borders.

9.      Protocol, consular and legal services: they are concerned with the carrying out of ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats and heads of state and consuls.

10.     

       Non-governmental agencies.

11.    

           Members of the public.

 Other departments in ministry of foreign affairs include:

1.     

        Directorate of technical aid corps (TAC): this department was established in 1987 to extend technical assistance to friendly nations, people involved in this operation are mostly artisans who are required to serve in foreign lands in order to enhance the man power of such nations.

2.      Directorate of technical cooperate in Africa: established in 2011 to assist friendly African countries in capacity building.

3.      Foreign Service academy: this academy was established in 1981 to provide in-house training for new staff and young diplomats in the ministry.

4.      Institute for peace and conflict resolution: this institute was created to bring peace and conflict management within Nigeria and Africa in particular.

5.      Nigeria institute of international affairs: this department was established as a non-profit organization in 1961, it was taken over by the government in 1971, it host seminars and conferences so as to generate ideas on ways of ensuring a dynamic foreign policy.