[Nigeria] N1.2bn boost from expat quotas prompts concern about domestic job losses

Nigeria’s Ministry of Interior has exceeded its budgetary expectations by raising N1.195 billion from the issuance of expatriate quotas from January to October this year, Business Day reports.

The figure dramatically exceeded the target of N600 million for the 2023 fiscal year.

However, this outcome has reportedly led to the National Assembly’s joint committee on Interior questioning the minister about the alleged impact of expatriate quotas on employment opportunities for Nigerians.

During the budget defence session with Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo - Minister of the Interior - the committee expressed concerns that the policy could facilitate the displacement of local workers by expatriates.

The minister defended the ministry’s financial performance and reportedly highlighted that the revenue generated from expatriate quotas exceeded projections by a substantial N600 million.

He also disclosed that the projected revenue from marriage, set at N380 million, had been surpassed, reaching N892.774 million by October 31, 2023.

Adams Oshiomhole - Chairman of the joint committee - raised concerns about potential abuse of the expatriate quota policy, alleging that foreign prisoners were working as construction workers in the country.

Mr Oshiomhole reiterated the need for effective regulation to prevent expatriates from taking jobs intended for Nigerian citizens. He reportedly urged the ministry to promptly address the issue.

” Your Ministry needs to regulate the issuance of the quotas. I have good authority that prisoners from foreign lands are working in Nigeria as construction workers.

“Many non-Nigerians are in the country, some of them live inside containers. I even believe and dare say that there are foreign prisoners who are working in Nigeria. They were shipped to our country to serve their prison terms. They were being paid according to their country’s minimum wage by the construction industry that brought them. I don’t want to mention the company’s name, but if I am provoked, I will mention them.”

 Mr Oshiomhole said, “This is a serious issue; prisoners are not expected to work in their countries if the product or whatever they engage in is meant to be exported.”

Mr Tunji-Ojo responded by informing the committee that the ministry is implementing the Expatriate Employee Network (EEN) project.

The initiative reportedly aims to safeguard jobs for Nigerians, prevent tax evasion by expatriate workers and address the committee’s concerns about the construction industry’s alleged employment of foreign prisoners.

Source: Business Day

(Quotes via original reporting)

Nigeria’s Ministry of Interior has exceeded its budgetary expectations by raising N1.195 billion from the issuance of expatriate quotas from January to October this year, Business Day reports.

The figure dramatically exceeded the target of N600 million for the 2023 fiscal year.

However, this outcome has reportedly led to the National Assembly’s joint committee on Interior questioning the minister about the alleged impact of expatriate quotas on employment opportunities for Nigerians.

During the budget defence session with Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo - Minister of the Interior - the committee expressed concerns that the policy could facilitate the displacement of local workers by expatriates.

The minister defended the ministry’s financial performance and reportedly highlighted that the revenue generated from expatriate quotas exceeded projections by a substantial N600 million.

He also disclosed that the projected revenue from marriage, set at N380 million, had been surpassed, reaching N892.774 million by October 31, 2023.

Adams Oshiomhole - Chairman of the joint committee - raised concerns about potential abuse of the expatriate quota policy, alleging that foreign prisoners were working as construction workers in the country.

Mr Oshiomhole reiterated the need for effective regulation to prevent expatriates from taking jobs intended for Nigerian citizens. He reportedly urged the ministry to promptly address the issue.

” Your Ministry needs to regulate the issuance of the quotas. I have good authority that prisoners from foreign lands are working in Nigeria as construction workers.

“Many non-Nigerians are in the country, some of them live inside containers. I even believe and dare say that there are foreign prisoners who are working in Nigeria. They were shipped to our country to serve their prison terms. They were being paid according to their country’s minimum wage by the construction industry that brought them. I don’t want to mention the company’s name, but if I am provoked, I will mention them.”

 Mr Oshiomhole said, “This is a serious issue; prisoners are not expected to work in their countries if the product or whatever they engage in is meant to be exported.”

Mr Tunji-Ojo responded by informing the committee that the ministry is implementing the Expatriate Employee Network (EEN) project.

The initiative reportedly aims to safeguard jobs for Nigerians, prevent tax evasion by expatriate workers and address the committee’s concerns about the construction industry’s alleged employment of foreign prisoners.

Source: Business Day

(Quotes via original reporting)