FG proposes NIN, tax for foreigners

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) is proposing an amendment to the National Identity Management Commission Act No. 23, 2007 to allow for foreigners living in the country to be issued the National Identification Number.

The FEC, on Wednesday, also proposed the Economy Stabilisation Bill to pave the way for the taxing of foreigners living and working in Nigeria.

The two proposed legislation are aimed to “expand the scope of registrable persons to include foreign individuals with the taxable presence or taxable source of income in Nigeria, and make provisions for the mandatory use of National Identification Number for transactions which are relevant for tax administration, and for related matters.”

The government proposes a new paragraph to Section 16, which reads, “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

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If passed into law, the new bill would see expatriates and income-earning immigrants being taxed.

Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, while briefing State House Correspondents at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday said if the National Assembly passes that bill, it provides that everybody living in Nigeria, including foreigners, will now be registered and given NIN.

“Once you are doing some work here and earning income, you will be registered and given an NIN so that you can be taxed.

“Your NIN will give you your tax identity, and you can also be taxed and come under our tax structure. The law that set up the NIMC initially precluded foreigners from being registered.”

The presidential aide announced a third bill seeking to amend the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency Act No.17, 2007, to “provide for the payment of fees and other charges in naira to improve the ease of doing business and for related matters.”

Onanuga said the decision is part of measures by Tinubu’s administration to promote the national currency and reduce the dollarization of Nigeria’s economy.