Tinubu to Forward Bill Mandating NIN Registration for Foreign Residents’ Taxation
President Bola Tinubu is set to forward an executive bill to the National Assembly seeking an amendment to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act. The bill will mandate all residents of Nigeria, including foreigners, to register for the National Identity Number (NIN), which will serve as a basis for taxation.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, made the announcement on Wednesday during a briefing at the Presidential Villa. He was joined by O’tega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Strategy, Engagement, and Communications.
“This bill will amend the law that was made some years ago, and it now provides, if the National Assembly passes that bill, that everybody living in Nigeria, foreigners, all of them will now be registered and be given tax identity,” Onanuga stated.
Onanuga emphasized that the new mandate will ensure foreigners engaged in income-generating activities in Nigeria are integrated into the country’s tax structure.
“Once you are doing some work here and you are earning income, you will be registered and given tax identity and you will be taxed, and you come under our tax structure,” he added.
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The bill, which was approved during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting earlier this week, is part of the government’s broader economic stabilization strategy. It aims to capture both Nigerians and foreign residents in the tax system through the NIN registration process.
This proposed amendment aligns with a related bill passed for a second reading in the Nigerian Senate. The “National Identity Management Commission (Repeal and Enactment) Bill 2024 (SB.472),” sponsored by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, seeks to broaden the eligibility criteria for obtaining the NIN, including all residents of Nigeria, irrespective of nationality or immigration status.
The Senate bill passed its second reading with full support and no objections. It now moves to a relevant Senate committee for further review, before returning to the Senate for additional debate and a final vote.
If passed by the Senate, the bill will proceed to the House of Representatives for similar consideration.If both chambers approve the bill, it will be forwarded to President Tinubu for his signature, after which the NIMC will implement the new provisions, making NIN registration mandatory for all eligible residents, including foreigners, enabling the government to expand its tax base and strengthen economic regulation.
Source: Nairametric
