In a joint session of the Committee on Interior from both the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Ministry of Interior received praise for surpassing its budgetary target in the issuance of expatriate quotas. The ministry achieved a remarkable revenue of N1.195 billion from January to October 2023, exceeding the projected N600 million for the fiscal year.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, the Chairman of the joint committee, expressed commendations during the budget defense exercise when the Minister of Interior, Rt. Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and heads of agencies under the ministry appeared before the National Assembly.
In the minister’s presentation, it was revealed that the ministry not only surpassed the projected revenue from expatriate quotas by N600 million but also exceeded the anticipated N380 million from marriage revenue by over N500 million, with N892.774 million realized as of October 31, 2023.
The session also addressed the merits and demerits of the issuance of expatriate quotas by the Interior Ministry. Lawmakers raised concerns about the need for effective regulation to prevent foreign prisoners from working in Nigeria, particularly in the construction sector.
Senator Oshiomhole emphasized the seriousness of the issue, stating, “Prisoners are not expected to work in their countries if the product or whatever they engage in is meant to be exported.”
In response, the Minister assured the committee that the ministry had devised the Expatriate Employee Network (EEN), a project aimed at safeguarding jobs meant for Nigerians, preventing the theft of jobs by expatriates, and ensuring expatriate workers pay taxes in Nigeria. The Minister’s assurance addressed concerns about the potential exploitation of the expatriate quota system and emphasized the importance of protecting job opportunities for Nigerian citizens.
