The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise [CPPE] commends President Bola Tinubu, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Minister of Interior for suspending the implementation of the contentious EEL. This gesture is a demonstration of the fact the Tinubu administration is responsive, democratic and inclusive in its governance process. The Federal Government had suspended the implementation of the Expatriate Employment Levy following concerns raised by stakeholders. Director, Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Interior, Ozoya Imohimi announced this in a statement on Friday night. He said the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo had met with a delegation led by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Doris Uzoka-Anite, to address concerns and seek clarification on the recently launched Expatriate Employment Levy (EEL) guidelines. “The aim of the meeting which held on Friday 8th March, 2024 in a Abuja was to foster constructive dialogue and explore ways to enhance the implementation of the policy while ensuring the welfare of Nigerians and promoting investment. “However, it was resolved at the meeting that the implementation of the policy should be put on hold for further dialogue among stakeholders”, he stated.
CPPE in its reaction to the suspension further said It shows that the administration is a listening government. Responsiveness to the concerns of stakeholders is a critical attribute of true democracy. Meanwhile, as we reflect on next steps, we wish to stress that there are already extant laws and regulations within the framework of the Nigeria Immigration Act and the Expatriate Quota Handbook that squarely addresses the outcomes contemplated in the EEL. The handbook is robust and comprehensive and covers the critical issues of technology transfer, localisation of jobs, and restrictions of some categories of expatriates from entry into the country, based on current skill gaps. There is also the National Content Act and the Presidential Executive orders three and five which focusses on localisation of procurement and service opportunities. What needs to be done differently is to strengthen the institutional and regulatory effectiveness in the Ministry of Interior and the Immigration Service to ensure compliance and enforcement. The truth is that relevant institutions have over the years been considerably compromised. These are the gaps that needs to be addressed. We really do not need a new policy, regulation or handbook on the employment of expatriates. A new regulation or policy will be superfluous. The current regulations or handbook could be tweaked, if necessary. Evidence of regulatory weaknesses are the numerous instances of expatriates operating in the retail sector in the open markets, competing with our market women and men.
We surely do not lack expertise in retail trading. But we have seen cases of some expatriates taking up shops in our traditional markets. Many of our indigenous traders in the markets have been displaced by these expatriates because they cannot compete with them. There are similar concerns expressed by our indigenous retailers in the computer and electronics, textiles and fabrics, and fashion accessories where expatriates are competing with them at the retail end of the market. Some of these companies dominate the entire value chain – they are the manufacturers, distributors and retailers. These are some of the issues that need to be addressed by the immigration service and the ministry of interior. Competition with our struggling market women and men is clearly an unfair competition. (BNR)
