The Minister of Interior, Mr. Olubunmi Tunji, revealed that the ministry has generated a remarkable N1.195 billion in revenue within 10 months. This announcement took place during the budget defense session of the joint National Assembly Committee on Interior. He emphasized that the projected revenue from expatriate quotas was surpassed by approximately N600 million, and the N380 million projected revenue from marriage exceeded by over N500 million, with a total of N892.774 million realized as of October 31.
During the session, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Chairman of the committee, commended the Ministry for surpassing its revenue targets on the issuance of expatriate quotas. However, he raised concerns about the potential exploitation of this policy by expatriates, resulting in the misappropriation of jobs meant for Nigerians. Senator Oshiomhole urged the Ministry to enhance the regulation of expatriate quotas, citing reports of foreign prisoners working in Nigeria as construction workers, and the unfair employment practices within the oil industry.
In response, Mr. Tunji highlighted the Ministry’s proactive approach to address this issue. He introduced the Expatriate Employee Network (EEN), a program aimed at safeguarding jobs for Nigerians and preventing tax evasion by expatriate workers in Nigeria. This initiative signifies the Ministry’s commitment to protecting the interests of Nigerian workers and curbing any potential exploitation by foreign labor within the country.
