Nigerians in Philippines, Cambodia threaten to sue FG over demand for monthly dues

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA — Nigerians living in the Philippines and Cambodia have threatened to initiate legal action against the Federal Government unless a fresh directive requiring them to pay compulsory monthly and annual dues is withdrawn.

In a petition to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the diaspora group condemned a public notice it said was issued by the Nigerian Embassy in Manila, Philippines.

The petitioners, through their consortium of senior lawyers led by Chief Chukwuma Nwachukwu, alleged that the Embassy, in a notice dated May 20, stated that it would deny consular-related services to Nigerians who fail to register with the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Philippines (NIDOPHIL) and pay the required dues.

According to the petitioners, those mandated to register and pay the mandatory monthly and annual dues included students in both countries.

“We act as Solicitors to concerned Nigerian Citizens living in the Philippines and Cambodia hereinafter referred to as our clients and on whose instructions, we write this letter.

“It is our clients’ brief that the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Manila, Philippines on the 20th day of May 2026 issued a letter titled public notice to all Nigerians in the Philippines and the Royal Kingdom of Cambodia wherein at paragraph 3 of the said notice the embassy is quoted as saying “no Nigerian national shall be attended to on any consular matter without presenting evidence of NIDOPHIL registration”.

“The Embassy in the above said notice at paragraph 4 is also quoted as saying “as a matter of policy, individuals without proof of registration shall not be granted entry through the Dasmarinas village gate for consular related services at the Embassy premises. Kindly note that this restriction also applies to all Nigerian students in the Philippines.”

“We have reviewed the content of the said public notice and it is our legal view that same amounts to a gross subversion of the fundamental rights of every Nigerian to freely associate and should not be coaxed into joining any association as enshrined under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended).

“NIDOPHIL is an association which every Nigerian living in the Philippines and Cambodia has the constitutional right to belong to freely and not by being compelled to join same as the Nigerian Embassy is seen to be doing through this public Notice.

“It is frightening to note that this draconian policy extends to students who may be seeking the Embassy services in relation to their studies.

“As well intended as this purported policy may appear to look good on the face value, it falls outside the jurisdiction of the consular services the Nigerian Embassy in the Philippines is required to provide for Nigerians in the Philippines and Cambodia.

“All issues related to NIDOPHIL falls within the jurisdiction of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission which was established by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (Establishment) Act 2017, (‘the NIDCOM ACT’) and by virtue of Section 2(d) of the Act, ‘the Commission is charged with the responsibility for coordinating and providing an organized system of collaborations of Nigerians in diaspora for their human capital and material resources and expertise to the general development of Nigeria’.

“A careful examination of the above said Act will reveal that the Nigerian Embassy has no role to play in the execution of any of the provisions of the NIDCOM ACT and as such the alleged public notice which was published on the website of the Nigerian Embassy in the Philippines amounts to an act of meddlesome interloper in the affairs of NIDCOM by the Nigerian Embassy in the Philippines and neither NIDCOM is clothed with any statutory powers to compel Nigerians in Diaspora to join NIDO in any part of the world.

“We firmly posit that it is the constitutional right of every Nigerian Citizen with a green passport anywhere in the world to access consular services in all Nigerian Embassies and High Commissions without let or hindrance.

“The public notice published on the 20th day of May 2026 violates this fundamental responsibility of the Nigerian Embassy to Nigerians in the Philippines and Royal Kingdom of Cambodia.

“We further posit that the threat contained in the said public notice that affected individuals without proof of registration shall not be granted entry through the Dasmarinas Village gate for consular related services at the Embassy premises runs contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

“As no Nigerian citizen shall be made to suffer or be punished for an offence not known to law.

“Denying Nigerians without evidence of registration as a member of NIDOPHILL access to the Nigerian Embassy in Philippines is a punishment not known to law in Nigeria and should not be allowed to stand.

“The Embassy has failed in this public notice to cite any legal authority that empowered it to issue such a draconian notice. This is an evidence that the publisher acted based on sentiment and not law.

“The Federal Republic of Nigeria is governed by laws and not sentiments and the Nigerian Embassy in the Philippines is not an exception.

“This draconian public notice if not withdrawn immediately will lead to chaos and anarchy in the Nigerian Embassy in the Philippines as Nigerians who require embassy services and are not members of NIDOPHIL will not receive consular services including Nigerian Students who may be forced out of school as a result of this policy.

“Consequently, it is the instructions of our client to write you this letter believing that you will exercise your supervisory authority over the Nigerian Embassy in the Philippines to call the Embassy to order and direct for an immediate withdrawal of the public notice.

“Our clients who are affected by this public notice for no offence of theirs are entitled to claim damages against the Federal Government of Nigeria but have resolved to let go if this policy is immediately withdrawn within seven (7) days of the receipt of this letter.

“Take notice that in the event of your neglect, failure or refusal to comply with the demands herein, we shall put into effect our further instructions to bring suit at the relevant courts to avail our clients of all the redress provided by the Constitution.

“Find attached a copy of the public notice for your attention and immediate action,” the petition further read.

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