Femi Gbajabiamila, majority leader of the house of representatives, has explained that the amendment he proposed to the country’s immigration law is to protect Nigerians from being exploited by foreigners.
The bill, which has passed second reading in the house, seeks to restrict work permits to foreigners except in cases where no Nigerian possessing the required qualification for the job or is unwilling to take it.
Reacting to concerns raised by those who perceived it as “discriminatory”, Gbajabiamila said no responsible government would watch its citizens lose jobs meant for them to foreigners.
“I do not see this as discriminatory or isolationist. Rather for me it is protectionist. There is no responsible government that will sit with arms akimbo and watch foreign nationals come in and exploit its hospitality by taking away jobs that should ordinarily be available to the locals and citizens.
“It is the job of any government to protect its workforce. This situation is so extensive in Nigeria that it cuts across all categories of workers from skilled to unskilled.
“From Phillipino nannies, artisans and tillers to pilots and mariners, to bank MDs and oil workers. Most of our top hotels in Nigeria are managed by foreigners, yet we have Nigerians who are professionally qualified to do same.
“It is not unusual and is even normal to see Chinese labourers on construction sites. Many have even said (though I find it difficult to believe) that prisoners are brought from other countries to come and work in Nigeria.”
He explained that the bill is not stopping foreigners to trade in Nigeria but it is restricting them not to seek permanent or temporal jobs under the guise of trade.
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