Nigerians in the Philippines and Cambodia Threaten to Sue Government Over Monthly Dues Demand

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA — Nigerians residing in the Philippines and Cambodia have warned that they will pursue legal action against the Federal Government if the Nigerian Embassy in Manila does not retract a recent directive that requires them to pay compulsory monthly and annual dues.

The diaspora group submitted a petition to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu‑Ojukwu, condemning a public notice it said was issued by the Nigerian Embassy in Manila on May 20.

Led by Chief Chukwuma Nwachukwu, a consortium of senior lawyers representing the petitioners alleged that the Embassy’s notice stated it would deny consular services to Nigerians who fail to register with the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Philippines (NIDOPHIL) and pay the required dues.

According to the petitioners, the registration and payment requirement applies to students in both countries.

“We act as solicitors for Nigerian citizens living in the Philippines and Cambodia, who are our clients, and on their instructions we write this letter,” the petition began. “Our clients’ brief is that on May 20, 2026, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Manila issued a public notice to all Nigerians in the Philippines and the Royal Kingdom of Cambodia. Paragraph 3 of the notice states that no Nigerian national shall be attended to on any consular matter without presenting evidence of NIDOPHIL registration.”

Paragraph 4 of the notice further states that “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.”

The petition argues that the notice amounts to a gross subversion of the fundamental right of every Nigerian to freely associate, as enshrined in Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). “NIDOPHIL is an association that every Nigerian living in the Philippines and Cambodia has the constitutional right to join freely; the Embassy’s public notice compels membership,” the lawyers said.

They further claim that the policy extends to students who may need Embassy services related to their studies, and that it falls outside the jurisdiction of the Nigerian Embassy in the Philippines. “All matters related to NIDOPHIL fall within the jurisdiction of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, established by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (Establishment) Act 2017 (the NIDCOM Act). Section 2(d) of the Act charges the Commission with coordinating and providing an organized system of collaboration for Nigerians in diaspora,” the petition noted.

According to the lawyers, a careful examination of the Act shows that the Embassy has no role in executing any provisions of the NIDCOM Act, and that the public notice published on the Embassy’s website is an act of meddling in the affairs of NIDCOM. They assert that the Commission has no statutory power to compel Nigerians in diaspora to join NIDOPHIL anywhere in 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 hindrance,” the petition states. “The public notice published on May 20, 2026 violates this fundamental responsibility of the Nigerian Embassy to Nigerians in the Philippines and the Royal Kingdom of Cambodia.”

The petition also argues that the threat in the notice that individuals without proof of registration will be denied entry through the Dasmarinas Village gate runs contrary to the Nigerian Constitution, which protects citizens from punishment for offences not known to law. “Denying Nigerians without evidence of registration as a member of NIDOPHIL access to the Embassy in the Philippines is a punishment not recognized by Nigerian law and should not be allowed to stand,” the lawyers contend.

The petition claims that the Embassy failed to cite any legal authority empowering it to issue such a notice, suggesting that the action was based on sentiment rather than law. “The Federal Republic of Nigeria is governed by laws, not sentiments, and the Nigerian Embassy in the Philippines is no exception,” the lawyers said.

They warn that if the notice is not withdrawn immediately, it could lead to chaos and anarchy at the Embassy, as Nigerians who require services and are not members of NIDOPHIL—including students—would be denied consular assistance. “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 an immediate withdrawal of the public notice.”

The petition states that clients affected by the notice, for no offence on their part, are entitled to claim damages against the Federal Government of Nigeria but will relinquish those claims if the policy is withdrawn within seven (7) days of receipt of the letter. “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 concluded.

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