HIGH COMMISSION OF INDIA ABUJA, NIGERIA (CONCURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO BENIN AND THE ECOWAS)

(i)

the particulars of its organization, functions and duties;

High Commission of India is headed by High Commissioner and has following five Wings: (i) Political & Information Wing (ii) Economic & Commercial Wing (iii) Administration/Accounts Wing (iv) Consular Wing, (v) Culture Wing
and (vi) Defence Wing. Each Wing is headed by Counsellor/First Secretary/Second Secretary rank officers.

The functions of the High Commission inter alia, include political and economic cooperation, trade and investment promotion, cultural interaction, press and media liaison, providing consular services. High Commission functions as part of Ministry of External Affairs(MEA), New Delhi and contributes in discharge of functions allocated to MEA under the Government of India's Allocation of Business Rules and Transaction of Business Rules.

High Commission functions within the purview of business allocated to the Ministry of External Affairs under the Government of India Allocation of Business Rules and Transaction of Business Rules. The functions of the Embassy inter alia include political and economic cooperation, trade and investment promotion, defence cooperation, scientific & technological cooperation, cultural interaction, press and media liaison, and consular operations including PIOs/NRIs, in bilateral and multilateral contexts. The list of all HOM’s is available at https://www.hciabuja.gov.in/pages/MTA,

(ii)

the powers and duties of its officers and employees;

General Administrative powers of the Officer(s) are derived from IFS (PLCA) Rules, as amended from time to time, while Financial power is exercised as per Delegated Financial powers of the Government of India's Representatives Abroad. In consular matters, Officers derive power from Passport Act of India/Visa Manual. Overall, the officers of the High Commission function under the guidance and supervision of the High Commissioner.

(iii)

the procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability;

Decisions are taken under the instruction and supervision of the High Commissioner. Decision/Instruction is also sought from the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi where required.

(iv)

the norms set by it for the discharge of its functions

Norms are set under the instruction and supervision of the High Commissioner based on the directions received from Ministry.

(v)

the rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records, held by it or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions;

IFS PLCA rules and annexures

Delegated Financial Powers of Government of India's Representatives abroad Rules

Passport Act

Visa Manual

Manuals on Office Procedures

Other Central Government Rules and manuals published by Central Government.

(vi)

a statement of the categories of documents that are held by it or under its control;

Documents/files relating to India's relations with Nigeria as well as Benin (concurrently accredited countries) including joint statements, declarations, MOUs/agreements, Political and Commercial Reports and regular correspondences.

Passport and consular services application forms.

(vii)

the particulars of any arrangement that exists for consultation with, or representation by, the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation thereof;

High Commission functions within the norms of India's foreign policy formulated by the Ministry of External Affairs. Policy is implemented by the High Commission under the guidance and supervision of the High Commissioner.

(viii)

a statement of the boards, councils, committees and other bodies consisting of two or more persons constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advice, and as to whether meetings of those boards, councils, committees and other bodies are open to the public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for public;

No such bodies are constituted under the High Commission of India in Abuja

(ix)

a directory of its officers and employees;

A directory is given at Annex-I

(xi)

the budget allocated to each of its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures and reports on disbursements made;

The Budget figures for the financial year 2023-24 are given in the statement at Annex-III

(xii)

the manner of execution of subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programmes;

High Commission of India does not have any subsidy programme.

(xiii)

particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorizations granted by it;

No concessions/permits are granted by the High Commission of India.

(xiv)

details in respect of the information, available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic form;

The High Commission’s website and social media platforms have the required information. The High Commission also makes available to interested individuals various Brochures, CDs and DVDs containing information on India, its people, culture, cuisine and products.

(xv)

the particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use;

Apart from information available on the High Commission's website (www.hciabuja.gov.in), citizens can approach, the High Commission of India which is open from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, from Monday to Friday. The holidays observed by the High Commission are given on the website www.hciabuja.gov.in

High Commission has a library which is open from 1500 hrs to 1700 hrs, Monday to Friday (except on gazetted holidays).

(xvi)

the names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers;

Central Public Information officer:-

Shri Narendra Kumar Garg, Attaché
Email:info.abuja@mea.gov.in
Phone:234-7080622800

First Appellate Authority:-

Shri P. K. Agrawal, First Secretary

Email: hoc.abuja@mea.gov.in

Phone:234-7080622800

(xvii)

such other information as may be prescribed and thereafter update these publications every year;

The High Commission's website has information which is updated on a regular basis

(xviii)

Details of third-party audit of voluntary disclosure

Third Party Audit of Voluntary Disclosure was carried out recently by Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, New Delhi (SSIFS).
Please see Appendix-1 (for the latest Audit Report of 2022-23)

(xxii)

Audit of the Mission (CAG/PAC paras pending against the Mission)

There are no CAG/PAC paras pending against this Mission as on 14 Feb 2024

(xxi)

Channel of supervision accountability

As per Organizational Chart at Appendix-2

(xxiii)

Details on STQC certification

Mission is following up with the authorized agency for obtaining of STQC certificate. It is currently under process.

(xxiv)

Process of grievance redressal

May please See Appendix-4

(xxv)

Foreign and domestic Tours by the officials of the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government and above, as well as the heads of the Department.

May please See Appendix-5

(xxvi)

Details of applications received under RTI and information provided

The details may be seen at Appendix-6

(xxvii)

Details of appeals received and orders issued

The details may be seen at Appendix-7

(xxviii)

Details of work contracts awarded by the Mission

List of the awarded work is given at Appendix-8

(xxix)

Details of Employees against whom disciplinary action has been proposed/ taken

Nil

(xxx)

The procedure followed in the decision-making process, including channels of supervision and accountability;

Decisions are taken as per extant rules and guidelines, where applicable and under the instruction and supervision of the High Commissioner. Decision/Instruction is also sought from the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi as and when required. The guidelines for office procedures have been published by the Government of India (GoI) including our controlling Ministry i.e. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) which encompasses those items of work that are frequently encountered by our officers. The Mission follows the Procedure as indicated in the Manual of Office Procedure for decision-making

(xxxi)

Time limit for taking a decision, if any

Decisions are taken under the prescribed rules and regulation and guidelines issued by the Govt. of India. On issues of diplomacy, since another sovereign government is involved, the Mission cannot work out here limit for finalisation of actions taken. Mission, however, disposes all correspondence with a week.

(xxxii)

Custodian of documents/categories

All Head of Wings (Counsellor/First Secretary/Second Secretary) are the custodian of documents of all categories. Higher classifications