The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has proposed an amendment to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act of 2007, aiming to include foreigners residing in Nigeria in the country’s National Identification Number (NIN) system. This move is part of the Economy Stabilisation Bill, designed to levy taxes on foreigners living and working in Nigeria.

The proposed changes will require all foreign individuals earning taxable income in the country to obtain a NIN, which will be mandatory for tax-related transactions. The amendment targets individuals who are considered residents or subject to Nigerian tax laws.

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Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, stated that once the bill is passed, all foreigners earning income within Nigeria’s borders will be required to register for a NIN and pay taxes in line with the nation’s regulations.

In addition to the NIN amendment, the government also introduced a bill to revise the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Act. This would allow payments to be made in Naira rather than dollars, aiming to strengthen the local currency and reduce the country’s reliance on the dollar for maritime transactions.