USA Africa Dialogue Series - Nigerian Ministry Of Foreign Affairs React To Embassies Commercialised ‘Call and Pay’ Telephone lines- Global Reporters Vienna

Saturday, March 30, 2013 Nigerian Ministry Of Foreign Affairs React To Embassies Commercialised 'Call and Pay' Telephone lines Global Reporters Vienna http://www.globalreportersvienna.com/2013/03/nigerian-ministry-of-foreign-affairs.html   Nigerian Ministry Of Foreign Affairs React To Embassies Commercialised 'Call and Pay' Telephone lines The entire team of Global Reporters Vienna was very satisfied to have read the reaction of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, through the spokesperson of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ogbole Amedu Ode, on the article published by Global Reporters on 26.03.2013 titled, "Exploitation At Nigerian Embassies, Nigerians in Diaspora React", and subtitled "Embassy Telephone Lines, Commercialised, Call And Pay" that was written by Mr Uzoma Ahamefule, a patriotic concerned Nigerian living in Vienna, Austria. (Click here to read the article) We congratulate the Minister and his team for their quick reaction to the subject matter as that has demonstrated that they have listening ears and we are sure that many Nigerians with progressive minds will be happy to hear this. If Nigerian leaders at all levels could react to the complaints of genuine Nigerians like the way the ministry of Foreign Affairs has done, Nigeria will overcome her tribulations. As we wish President Goodluck Jonathan, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, Ogbole Amedu Ode and other Nigerians in leadership positions God's wisdom and mercy, we also want to add our voice that this new telephone policy should please be reversed. It is not serving us better than what we had before. The pain the policy is causing us is more than what may be considered as its advantage. Below was the reaction from the ministry of Foreign Affairs "RE: EMBASSY TELEPHONE LINES, COMMERCIALISED, CALL AND PAY "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has read, with interest, the various comments and observations that have been made on-line by members of the Nigerian communities in various parts of the world, especially those in Europe and the Americas regarding the recent introduction of optional telephone lines at a few of Nigerian Missions abroad. "The Ministry wishes to state, from the onset, that the limited introduction of the fast telephone services was motivated by the desire to improve service delivery at the few "Missions concerned. This was as a result of numerous complaints by some Nigerians of difficulties they faced in reaching some of the Missions through the usual telephone lines. The intention is not for Nigerians to pay more for the services they seek from their Missions and to which they are perfectly entitled. As a matter of fact, the services rendered by Nigerian Missions are, for good measure, highly subsidised since the Missions can never be run as commercial entities. It is therefore preposterous to suggest that the new telephone service was introduced to enable Missions rake in revenue to pay staff salaries and run their services as nothing could be further from the truth. "A good appreciation of the new arrangement will reveal that the new lines are operating side by side with the old telephone system and not meant to be a substitute. It is optional for users to decide which of the two arrangements they prefer. This can be likened to the arrangement in many Missions of other countries, including those operating in Nigeria, the option of paying a little more for fast-track services, than being on the queue for services to be delivered over the usual waiting period. "It must also be added, in conclusion, that the new arrangement is a pilot programme. If the Ministry discovers at this trial stage that the system introduced to better serve Nigerian and for easier access is not working as it should, or is likely to put additional and unintended burden or cost on Nigerians and other service users, it will not hesitate to revisit, fine tune or stand down the arrangement, in line with global best practices. "Ogbole Amedu Ode "Spokesperson "Ministry of Foreign Affairs "Abuja. "27th March 2013" Let us know how you feel about the quick reaction of the ministry. Please make use of the comment box below.   3 comments: AnonymousMarch 30, 2013 at 10:39 AM Ya, it was good that they reacted but that is not enough. They should cancell this rubbish immediately. What is the hell with this country? ReplyDelete AnonymousMarch 30, 2013 at 5:01 PM Talk is cheap, what has he done actively. ReplyDelete AnonymousApril 1, 2013 at 10:31 PM They don't care, but let's see what happens. ReplyDelete