President Bola Tinubu has unveiled the Expatriate Employment Levy (EEL) aimed at narrowing wage disparities between expatriates and Nigerian workers while promoting the employment of local talent.
The EEL introduces mandatory levies for firms hiring expatriates and outlines guidelines for the employment of Nigerians in foreign-owned enterprises. Tinubu emphasized that the policy, designed to regulate expatriate employment, should not impede foreign investment.
According to the EEL handbook, the initiative seeks to reduce dependence on foreign expertise and encourage companies to prioritize hiring Nigerians, thus fostering the development of the local workforce. The policy document underscores the government’s commitment to striking a balance between leveraging foreign skills and nurturing indigenous talent in Nigeria’s job market.
Tinubu hailed the initiative as a game-changer, highlighting its role in equipping Nigerians with skills and curbing security challenges associated with foreign influx. He expressed confidence that ongoing government initiatives would elevate living standards for Nigerians, emphasizing interagency collaboration to drive national progress.
The President underscored the need for coordinated efforts among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to advance the nation’s financial system through effective implementation and objective acceleration of the EEL programme.
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, disclosed that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the federal government, in partnership with private entities, would oversee the initiative through a public-private partnership (PPP) model. Tunji-Ojo outlined the primary objective of the initiative: ensuring that expatriates are employed only when no Nigerian possesses the requisite skills for the job.
The comprehensive handbook accompanying the project aims to guide stakeholders, particularly foreign-owned enterprises, on compliance and understanding of the EEL concept. Tunji-Ojo emphasized that the policy intends to minimize reliance on foreign personnel and streamline the process of expatriate quota renewal.
Furthermore, the policy prioritizes knowledge transfer, training of Nigerians, and creating more opportunities for the nation’s youth, aligning with broader goals of enhancing local workforce capacity and reducing dependency on expatriate labor.
