Time to review expatriate quota policy

Since the evolution of Nigeria as a country, there has always been the need to safeguard the positions of Nigerians in their own country with regard to employment opportunities through the expatriate quota policy. The expatriate quota is a necessary approval by which the federal government, through the Ministry of Interior, grants indigenous or foreign-owned […]

Since the evolution of Nigeria as a country, there has always been the need to safeguard the positions of Nigerians in their own country with regard to employment opportunities through the expatriate quota policy.

The expatriate quota is a necessary approval by which the federal government, through the Ministry of Interior, grants indigenous or foreign-owned companies permission to hire foreign employees to work and live in Nigeria.

The idea started as far back as the 1950s when Nigeria, pushing for self-governance from colonial British Rule, introduced what was called the Nigerianisation policy. That policy gradually saw the easing out of expatriate workers within the civil service and replacing them with suitably qualified Nigerians.

Today, Nigeria as a country finds itself with the urgent need to revisit and strengthen this policy to secure better employment opportunities for its citizens in the country, especially when viewed against the recent report by the Ministry of Interior. The ministry through a report to the National Assembly about two weeks ago disclosed that 12 firms were being investigated by its Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection Unit in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices  and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the National Assembly  for engaging in what it called expatriate quota racketeering.

It accused the 12 companies of violating extant policies, rules and regulations surrounding the expatriate quota arrangement.

We call for a thorough investigation into this issue and all those found to have violated or are violating the policy to be duly sanctioned.

We cannot allow foreign companies to continue to violate expatriate quota, especially at a time where the country is battling a high rate of unemployment. While this policy has been long-standing, considering recent trends and significant shifts in the way and manner of company operations brought about by globalisation and technology, there is a need for the provisions of the expatriate quota policy to be reviewed to reflect contemporary realities.

Indeed it is within government’s rights to prevent the takeover of Nigeria’s key economic interest by foreign companies and their expatriate workers.

The objective is to create and safeguard job opportunities for Nigerians, give them opportunities to grow, and establish similar businesses and companies in the future. The reality is that a good number of these attractive job opportunities are going to expatriates at the expense of qualified Nigerians. Employing expatriates might sometimes be strategic, to fill in expertise gaps in key areas of the economy, or education. However, there are instances where the exotification of expatriates is the overall consideration. The consequence is that qualified Nigerians are not only denied opportunities but are also paid significantly less for the same positions.

Nigeria needs to identify what competencies it has and can provide and explore those options before ceding ‘juicy’ employment to expatriates. This will ensure that companies and businesses do not take on far more foreigners than is necessary for their operations.

This is even more so when expatriates are not better qualified than Nigerians and are given the job purely on the basis of their skin colour or the fact they are not Nigerians.

While the current policy demands companies to renew their expatriate quota every three years, it is pertinent to advise that the proportion of that quota is shrunk with every review, except where absolutely necessary, to create opportunities for Nigerians.

Our position is definitive. Companies, foreign-owned or otherwise, must favour Nigerians for suitable employment before looking elsewhere for those to fill the role. This does not only safeguard employment opportunities for Nigerians but is in the best interest of the country. Our national security and economic interests should as much as possible be entrusted to the care of Nigerians.

To this end, the Ministry of Interior must urgently review the expatriate quota, and install mechanisms to effect, monitor and safeguard them.

The Nigerian Immigration Services must also step up its game to ensure compliance to this quota, monitor companies and appropriately sanction those in breach. It would be unreasonable to watch this policy, even as it is, being flouted by companies, businesses and foreign investors. The service must tighten regulations and procedures by which expatriates waltz into jobs in Nigeria at the expense of Nigerians.

While we acknowledge the value and experience some expatriates bring to their roles in Nigeria, after all, everything in moderation is good, we cannot deny that without opportunities, Nigerians will not have the chance to learn, gain experience or showcase their talent. The key, however, is that the influx needs to be carefully moderated to not only give Nigerians a fair chance but to prevent their exploitation and abuse, by their employers as has been reported several times. It will also ensure they have fair access and equal opportunities. After all, as Nigerians, they have a higher stake in the success and well-being of the country and their fellow Nigerians.

We, therefore, implore the federal Ministry of Interior to, as a matter of immediate national interest, review and reinvigorate the expatriate quota policy.