90% of expatriates doing jobs meant for Nigerians lack proper work permits- Interior Minister says

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, says 90 percent of expatriates doing jobs meant for Nigerians lack proper work permits. Tunji-Ojo disclosed this when he appeared before the joint national assembly joint committees on interior to defend the budget of the interior ministry on Wednesday, January 15.

Adams Oshiomhole, chairman of the senate committee on interior, had accused the Ministry of allowing a lot of expatriates to come into the country to do the jobs meant for Nigerians.

“No country in the world allows all manner of people to come under all kinds of guises and they are given visas and whatever it is to reside in the country. Visit the commercial centres, you will find expatriates selling tables, chairs, bread – but they are clearly jobs that Nigerians can do.”he said

Responding, the minister said Nigeria needs to solve the problem of “migration management”, adding that there are issues he is not at liberty to discuss in public, but in a closed session.

“We try to solve compound problems by solving them in silos… 90 percent of the people that you spoke about do not have permits and that is the essence of the automation process that we are doing. When you go to any country in the world, effective border management is the basis of your home migration management.” he said