By EZEKIEL OBI, Abuja –
The Federal Government has announced the approval of the new guidelines on the Administration of Expatriate Quota.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, announced this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the Director of Press in the ministry, Mrs Blessing Lere-Adams.
The minister urged the general public, companies, organization and stakeholders to visit the ministry’s website, www.ecitibiz.gov.ng, for more information and further details on the current guidelines and adhere to it forthwith.
He added that the notice also enjoined all companies and organisations who had been granted Expatriate Quota Positions (EQPs) on ‘Permanent Until Reviewed’ (PUR) status to note that approval had been granted by the minister.
This, she noted, was for an examination of all PUR instruments issued from the inception of this facility.
He also explained that the exercise would assist the ministry to ascertain the length of time each PUR instrument had been held, the extent of the utilisation of the facility by respective organisations.
“And it will facilitate the assessment of the continued eligibility of holders while repositioning the management of the instrument for greater efficiency and effectiveness.
“Accordingly, all companies and organisations that have been granted PUR facilities are requested to submit clear copies of their letters of approval to the address below.
“Office of the Deputy Director (E, I&I), Citizenship and Business Department, Ground Floor, Room 110, Ministry of Interior, Federal Secretariat, Area 1, Abuja.”
She, however, noted that the submission of the said letters commenced from Jan. 24, and would end on Feb. 28.
He, therefore, warned that failure to comply with the deadline specified implied that the facility had lapsed and would result in its cancellation.
“Also, it is now mandatory that all users of services provided by Citizenship and Business Department of the ministry are to submit Monthly Returns on the Utilisation of all approved Expatriate Quota Positions, issued to their respective organisations online via www.ecitibiz.interior.ng while their Expatriate and Nigerian Understudies obtain National Identification Number (NIN) which must reflect in the monthly returns.
“All submissions must be online as manual submission has been cancelled and shall no longer be accepted. This directive also takes effect from Jan. 24.
“Furthermore, it is now mandatory that with effect from Jan. 24, all users of facilities granted by the citizenship and Business Department of the ministry must update their contact details by taking the following steps.”
A- Forward a formal letter introducing their representatives (whether Full-Time employee or Consultant) to:
The Office of the Director, Citizenship and Ground Floor, Room 123, Ministry of Interior, Federal Secretariat, Area 1, Abuja.
B- The letters from the organisations must contain the following:
i- Full name of the authorised representative, ii- position held in the company, iii- Official E-mail Address;
iv- Official Phone Numbers, v- Alternative Cell Phone numbers, vi- Full mailing address for courier services.
vii- Two (2) copies of recent passport photograph of the representative, and viii- Photocopy of official Identity Card of the representative.
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