FG Targets Foreigners In Nigeria, Proposes NIN, Taxation

The federal government is moving towards issuing National Identification Numbers (NIN) to foreigners in Nigeria.

This follows an amendment to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, No. 23, 2007 put forward by Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council (FEC).

It is understood that this proposal is part of a wide legislation aimed at extending the scope of individuals eligible for registration to include non-Nigerians with taxable income or presence in the country.

To this end, FEC sought to impose taxes on foreigners who live and work in the country by introducing the Economy Stabilisation Bill.

The two proposed legislation aims to ensure that non-Nigerians who earn income in the country are registered with the NIN system and taxed accordingly.

Therefore, the Nigerian government has proposed a new paragraph to Section 16. The section 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.”

This means that expatriates and other income-earning immigrants would be taxed under the new law when passed.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, threw more light on the proposed changes during a briefing at the presidential villa, Abuja.

Onanuga said all residents, including foreigners, will be required to register for a NIN, which will serve as their tax identification number if the national assembly approves the bill.

He explained that, “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 precludes foreigners from being registered.”

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