FG begins new expatriate job policy, violators risk N3m fine

Businesses would have to pay N3 million for each infringement against the new Expatriate Employment Levy policy.

False information on EEL, failing to register an employee, a business body not renewing EEL within 30 days, and failing to submit EEL are the crimes.

Employers who hire foreign workers are required to pay an additional fee known as the Expatriate Employment Levy.

Ensuring equal contributions from expatriate employment, the levy attempts to balance workforce development and economic growth. It is mostly levied on the offshore profits of expats working in Nigeria.

The policy was introduced by President Bola Tinubu on February 28, 2024.

In addition to expanding job prospects for competent Nigerians in international businesses doing business in the nation, he claimed that the EEL will reduce salary disparities between foreign workers and the country's workers.
But according to the manual our correspondent saw on Sunday, inaccuracies or incompleteness of information are among the infractions for which there could be consequences.

"A corporate entity may be fined N3,000,000 for failing to register an EEL within 30 days.

"A fine of N3,000,000 will be imposed for failing to register an employee within 30 days."

"A corporate entity faces a N3,000,000 fine if it fails to renew its EEL within 30 days."

Additionally, the manual states that corporations must pay $10,000 for other categories and $15,000 for foreign nationals employed as directors.

It further stated, "Employers of foreign nationals covered by the EEL are required to pay $10,000 for foreign nationals in other categories and $15,000 for directors."

Similar to a passport, the Ministry of Interior declared in a notice on its website that the EEL card is a need.

It further stated that every foreigner would have to enter and exit the nation.

Nonetheless, the ministry set April 15 as the deadline for adhering to the guideline.

The warning said, in part, "For additional information and to register your business and foreign employees, see through the Handbook and User Manual available on the portal.
“The last date of compliance with EEL is Monday, April 15, 2024.

“An EEL card is a mandatory document like a passport, and will be required at the time of lawful exit and entry into the country.”