The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has introduced a proposal to amend the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, No. 23, 2007, aiming to issue National Identification Numbers (NIN) to foreigners residing in Nigeria. This amendment is part of broader legislation intended to extend the scope of registrable individuals to include non-Nigerians with taxable income or presence in the country.
Additionally, the FEC has presented the Economy Stabilisation Bill, which seeks to impose taxes on foreigners who live and work in Nigeria. The bill is designed to ensure that expatriates and other income-earning immigrants are registered under the NIN system and taxed accordingly.
The proposed legislation introduces a new paragraph to Section 16, stating, “Any person, whether or not he is a citizen of Nigeria, who is deemed to be resident or otherwise subject to tax in Nigeria under any legislation in force in Nigeria.”
During a briefing at the Aso Rock Villa on Wednesday, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, explained that if passed by the National Assembly, all residents, including foreigners, would be required to register for an NIN, which would also serve as their tax identification number. Onanuga said, “Once you are doing some work here and earning income, you will be registered and given an NIN so that you can be taxed.”
Moreover, the FEC introduced a third bill proposing amendments to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Act, No. 17, 2007. This amendment would mandate that all fees, charges, levies, and fines payable to NIMASA be settled in Naira instead of foreign currencies like the US dollar, shifting the focus towards promoting the national currency.