FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES PARTNER ON EXPATRIATE QUOTA PROCESSING
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Interior, Barr. Georgina Ekeoma Ehuria has said that the ministry is partnering key institutions and agencies of the Federal Government, like the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board and the Federal Inland Revenue Service to improve the expatriate quota processing in the country.
Barrister Ehuria disclosed this recently at a one day stakeholders meeting on expatriate quota administration held in Abuja.
A statement signed by Mohammed Manga, Director (Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Interior on behalf of the Perm. Sec, revealed that; “Arrangements have been concluded to electronically link the ministry’s portal with Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria Immigration Service and Central Bank of Nigeria with a view to reducing, if not totally, the incidences of fake quota positions”.
Barr. Ehuria added that the process will also eliminate the use of forged documents to process Business Permit and Expatriate Quota.
The Permanent Secretary said further that the ministry is also collaborating with Corporate Affairs Commission, Central Bank of Nigeria among others, to improve the integrity of the entire expatriate quota process.
She pointed out that the quota played key role in the economy and is granted to companies to enable them employ foreigners with specialised skills that are not readily available in the country or are in short supply. “It fills gaps and over time, facilitate the transfer of technology to Nigerians and the eventual indigenisation of the positions occupied by the expatriates”, she said.
As part of ongoing reforms in the administration of expatriate quota, Ekeoma said, “approval was recently granted by the appropriate authority for the re-validation of Expatriate Quota on Permanent Until Reviewed (PUR) status. This will enable the ministry to update its records, ascertain proper utilisation by companies and continued eligibility of beneficiaries”, she said.
The Permanent Secretary said that she had directed that a machinery be put in place for the review of the handbook on expatriate quota administration which was last revised in 2004.
She explained that the stakeholders meeting was in furtherance of the ministry’s mandate as it relates to the administration and enforcement of the Nigeria Immigration Act, 2015 and Immigration Regulations, 2017.
Speaking Earlier, the Associate Director, People Advisory Service, said that the meeting was the right step in the right direction.
According to him, the automation of the expatriate quota process has made life easier and seamless for stakeholders.
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