The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has proposed amendments to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, aimed at issuing the National Identification Number (NIN) to foreign residents in Nigeria.
The amendment, which was announced on Wednesday, is part of broader plans to include expatriates and income-earning immigrants in Nigeria’s tax structure.
The proposed legislation seeks to expand the scope of the Act to include “foreign individuals with taxable presence or income” in Nigeria.
If passed, all foreigners working and earning income in the country will be required to obtain a NIN, which will be linked to their tax identification for proper taxation.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, explained that the bill, once enacted by the National Assembly, would make NIN mandatory for tax-related transactions involving foreigners.
He added that the NIMC Act currently excludes foreigners from registration, but the new amendment aims to rectify this.
Additionally, FEC is proposing the Economy Stabilisation Bill to ensure expatriates living and working in Nigeria are taxed.
The bill would introduce measures to track taxable persons and expand the taxable population.
In a related development, the government also announced plans to amend the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Act, allowing for the payment of fees and charges in Naira instead of dollars.
