The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned diplomats in the country to desist from approaching President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo directly for meeting appointments.
Speaking at a meeting with the diplomats in Abuja, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ambassador Olusola Enikanolaye seeking audiences with the Presidency and other arms of government directly by the ambassadors was against established standard diplomatic channels of communication.
He said: “We must hasten to note that some diplomats and some missions are in the habit of going above the Ministry of foreign affairs in seeking audiences and engagement with government at even higher levels.
“I need not to stress that this is not what we know as diplomats, it is clearly violation of Vienna conventions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the main means of communication between the diplomatic communities and the host government. I am aware that we need to put our house in order in the ministry.
The Permanent Secretary also warned the diplomats to desist from writing note verbal to the Presidency.
“I thought you all know that note verbal is the highest form of correspondence between the diplomatic nations and the minister of foreign affairs. You cannot address note verbal to the presidency. It is not done. Please I am appealing to you to desist from such an orthodox means of communication with our government.
“And this is what we are already doing by ensuring that we respond quickly, proactively to your requests to your note verbal. Once we do this, there will be no reason for you to go above us to get things done,” he said.
