Tinubu launches initiative to balance expatriate quota in Nigeria

Tinubu launches initiative to balance expatriate quota in Nigeria 

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday launched the Expatriate Employment Levy (EEL), an initiative aimed at facilitating homegrown skill retention and technology domestication.

It is also to balance employment opportunities between Nigerians and expatriates in foreign firms in Nigeria.

Speaking at the launch of the EEL handbook, the President said the aim is to close wage gaps between expatriates and the Nigerian labour force, while increasing employment opportunities for qualified Nigerians in foreign companies operating in the country.

Tinubu, however, warned that the scheme should not be used to discourage foreign investors.

The President said, “We expect improved revenue generation; improved naturalization and indigenization; we anticipate the employment of more qualified Nigerians by foreign companies operating in this country.

“We seek a greater balancing of employment opportunities between Nigerians and expatriates and the closure of the wage gap between expatriates and the Nigerian labour force by making it more attractive to hire Nigerians.

“I declare my support for the Expatriate Employment Levy scheme, and I will continue to encourage the operators, practitioners of immigration matters and expatriate quotas, but I emphasize: do not use it as a bottleneck; do not use it as an obstacle to frustrate potential investors.

“There will be clear lines of implementation and effective acceleration of aims and objectives of this programme.

“Officials in charge of immigration matters, expatriate quotas, and relevant stakeholders have to be effectively guided to make Nigeria the focus of the objective of this EEL.”