In a bid to free up job spaces taken up by foreigners for Nigerians, the Ministry of Interior on Monday commenced a reformation of the 1963 Nigerian Immigration Act which prohibits an employer from employing foreigners provided there is a suitable Nigerian for the job.

The reform is expected to fortify the Expatriate Quota Act and also put in place a proper administrator which will monitor compliance to the Act.

The Minister of Interior, Mr Abba Moro, made this known while he delivered the keynote address titled, ‘Expatriate Quota Administration in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects’, at the opening of workshop on expatriate quota in Lagos on Monday.

Admitting abuse of various immigration laws such as trading and non-utilisation of EQPs, foreign exchange leaching, forgery and fake EQPs and other documents, warehousing of files, non-compliance with understudy policy to ensure transfer of technology etc, the Minister stated that “they are obviously very worrisome”.

According to him, the ministry had resorted to automation to improve functionality and service delivery of the Ministry’s Citizenship and Business Department.

He said the guiding principles of the extant expatriate quota administration were still the Indigenisation laws which had been repealed by the NIPC Act of 1990 in line with global trends.

The Minister also noted that the advent of globalisation, movement of human and material resources in the age of knowledge economy has made the exchange of skills and knowledge undeniable.

He acknowledged that Nigeria does need foreign migrants with necessary skills in certain sectors to fast-track her economic development.

He urged the workshop to dwell on the need to articulate a compact between the Ministry of Interior and all relevant stakeholders on expatriate quota administration in the country, stating “the compact, if developed and approved, will be the building blocks and provide touchstones for consideration in all our ministerial approvals of quota facilities granted by the ministry.”

On the virtues of spontaneity, convenience and timeliness of the new visa regime recently approved by the federal government, the Minister affirmed that the visa will not compromise overall security and economic consideration of the country.

amdy08: Thats a very good move long overdue by FG .it will generate employment and encourage and promote local content.

Why does Nigeria like running before crawling?We are still paying for gaining independence before we were due for it,unlike our South Africa and Ghana counterparts.Bite me but I would say the truth-THERE are SOME OF THESE POSITION that should be left for them alone @ for some time so that we can learn .Afterall they invented it in the first place.Even with their expertise,we still ve hiccups in some certain areas,I wonder what would happen when we completely take over.
We should also not forget that their government might retaliate.That means no job for those in diaspora

floridam: I think all what our ministers are good for is just talking and talking.
This na another talk again just for talking sake.
When have they ever said something and implemented it?
Check out all the factories in Ogun state, na Indians full am.
There is no future position for Nigerians in these companies as some positions are always reserved for Indians .

adorebee: Why does Nigeria like running before crawling?We are still paying for gaining independence before we were due for it,unlike our South Africa and Ghana counterparts.Bite me but I would say the truth-THERE are SOME OF THESE POSITION that should be left for them alone @ for some time so that we can learn .Afterall they invented it in the first place.Even with their expertise,we still ve hiccups in some certain areas,I wonder what would happen when we completely take over.
We should also not forget that their government might retaliate.That means no job for those in diaspora

ikeyman00:


^^^^

RUBBISH!

aryzgreat: Long overdue, especially in telecom industry, HUAWEI to be precise!, the chinese guys troupe into naija in droves, use our infrastructure to train their people and send them to other west africa con3. most of them are school cert but they are made boss to naija graduates even when u cant understand their poor english.

A-town:
While it is commendable that they are trying to reduce the expatriate quota abuse, i am amazed that a lot of people are saying this will create more jobs. How many if i may ask? How many of you are qualified to take up those jobs. Okay, so they free up a couple hundred expatriate jobs, how has that suddenly helped the millions who still need jobs. It is a good move and should be applauded but please stop blaming the unemployment in the country on expatriates.

Fiawest: Wonder y 9ja is just realising dis,b4 I got a job hence work permit here,man suffer well well,they made sure d positin cnt be taken my locals,it everywhere,US,UK even SA.

KINGwax: i don't biliv we still got simple minds in nigeria o. There's a saying in yorubaland, 'all the worshiping of a cat it to steal fried fish'.
If u are currently a foreigner currently working big in nigeria, what will u be thinking now? It's simple, 'lemme see this man wit some package and book a space'! The pot-bellied minister only needs some dough jö