…amid concerns over policy’s impact on Nigerian jobs
The Ministry of Interior has exceeded its revenue projection by a significant margin, generating N1.195 billion from expatriate quotas between January and October this year, far surpassing the budgeted N600 million for the entire 2023 fiscal year.
However, the National Assembly, particularly the joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Interior, raised concerns about the potential negative impact of expatriate quotas on employment opportunities for Nigerians within the country.
Discussions during the budget defence session with the Minister of Interior, Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, pivoted around the merits and demerits of issuing expatriate quotas to foreign companies operating in Nigeria.
Enumerated the ministry’s financial performance, the minister stated, “In 2023, while N600 million was projected from expatriate quotas, we have already generated N1.195 billion by October 31, 2023, surpassing our target.”
But the Chairman of the joint committee, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, expressed concerns about the potential misuse of the policy, alleging that foreign prisoners were engaged as construction workers in Nigeria, implying the exploitation of jobs meant for Nigerians.
“Your ministry needs to regulate the issuance of these quotas effectively. I’ve received information indicating that prisoners from foreign countries are employed in Nigeria. This situation is distinct from the long-standing issue of oil companies employing qualified Nigerian engineers under foreign technicians,” Oshiomhole said.
In response, the minister assured the committee that the ministry had devised the Expatriate Employee Network (EEN) to protect Nigerian jobs from being taken by expatriates and to ensure expatriate workers comply with tax regulations in the country.
This comes amid a growing concern over the employment impact of expatriate quotas, with calls for stricter regulations to safeguard job opportunities for Nigerians and prevent potential exploitation within the country’s workforce.
But the minister said the EEN initiative aims to address these concerns and ensure a fair and equitable work environment for Nigerian citizens.
