Melvin Onwubuke
The Center for the Promotion of Private Enterprise has linked various instances of expatriates operating in the retail sector in Nigeria to regulatory weakness.
This was disclosed recently in a statement by Chief Executive Officer (CPPE) Dr. Muda Yusuf, according to nairametrics.
Yusuf explained that there are similar concerns expressed by local retailers in the computer and electronics, textiles and fabrics, and fashion accessories where expatriates are competing with them at the retail end of the market.
He noted “Evidence of regulatory weaknesses are the numerous instances of expatriates operating in the retail sector in the open markets, competing with our market women and men.
“We surely do not lack expertise in retail trading. But we have seen cases of some expatriates taking up shops in our traditional markets. Many of our indigenous traders in the markets have been displaced by these expatriates because they cannot compete with them.
“There are similar concerns expressed by our indigenous retailers in the computer and electronics, textiles and fabrics, and fashion accessories where expatriates are competing with them at the retail end of the market.
“Some of these companies dominate the entire value chain – they are the manufacturers, distributors, and retailers.”
The Immigration Service and the Interior Ministry must deal with these issues. Competition with our struggling market women and men is an unfair competition.
Yusuf applauded President Bola Tinubu, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the Minister of Interior for suspending the implementation of the contentious Expatriate Employment Levy..
According to Yusuf, existing laws and regulations in Nigeria’s Immigration Act and the Expatriate Quota Handbook, which directly address the results of the EEL, are already in place.
Yusuf said the handbook is comprehensive and covers the vital issues of technology transfer, localization of jobs, and restrictions of some categories of expatriates from entry into the country, based on current skill deficit.
He went on to say that the National Content Act and Presidential Executive Orders Three and Five, which focus on the localization of procurement and service opportunities, are also in place.
Yusuf explained that, what is needed is to strengthen the institutional and regulatory effectiveness of the Ministry of Interior and the Immigration Service to ensure compliance and enforcement.
“The truth is that relevant institutions have over the years been considerably compromised. These are the gaps that need to be addressed.
“We do not need a new policy, regulation, or handbook on the employment of expatriates. A new regulation or policy will be superfluous. The current regulations or handbook could be tweaked, if necessary,” he noted
