The Federal Executive Council has proposed an amendment to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act No. 23, 2007, requiring foreigners residing in Nigeria to obtain a National Identity Number (NIN).
On August 25, 2024, the Federal Executive Council introduced an Economic Stabilisation Bill, which includes a tax for foreigners living and working in the country.
The proposed laws aim to “expand the scope of registrable persons to include foreigners with a taxable presence or source of income in Nigeria, and to mandate the use of the National Identity Card for transactions relevant to tax administration and other related matters.”
The Federal Government also proposed an amendment to Section 16 of the NIMC Act, stating: “Any person, whether or not a citizen of Nigeria, who is deemed to be resident or otherwise subject to tax in Nigeria under any legislation in force in Nigeria must comply with the law.”
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, shared this information while addressing State House correspondents at Aso Rock in Abuja on Wednesday. He said, “If the National Assembly passes the bill, it will ensure that everyone living in Nigeria, including foreigners, will now be registered and given a NIN.”
“Once you are working here and earning income, you will be registered and given a NIN so that you can be taxed. Your NIN will serve as your tax identity, allowing you to be integrated into the tax system. The law that initially set up the NIMC excluded foreigners from registration.”
Onanuga further announced a third bill seeking to amend the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Act No. 17, 2007. This amendment aims to “provide for the payment of fees and other charges in Naira to improve the ease of doing business and for related matters.”
Under this Act, the amendment to Section 15 introduces a new subsection (2), which states: “All fees, charges, levies, fines, and other monies accruing and payable to the Agency under this Act may be paid in Naira at the applicable official exchange rate.”
Onanuga explained, “Previously, these agencies charged in dollars, but now payments can be made in Naira. This government wants to place greater emphasis on the use of our national currency instead of dollarizing our economy. The government is now saying, ‘Pay in Naira. Not everything has to be in dollars.’”
