The Organised Private Sector (OPS), including Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), has applauded the Federal Government for suspending implementation of the contentious Expatriate Employment Levy (EEL). 
   

The associations said the decision followed a meeting with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Minister of Interior in Abuja.
   
Present at the parley were National President of NACCIMA, Dele Oye; President of Petroleum Technology Association; President of Special Economic Zones Association; Director-General of Nigerian Turkiye Business Council; European Union Trade delegation head, NACCIMA Chair of Digital Trade Group and representatives of National Association of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (NASME).
   
They submitted that the gesture was a demonstration of government’s responsive, democratic and inclusive posture in governance.
   
Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, Oye stated that it was unanimously agreed that implementation of the levy should be paused to allow for further consultations with key stakeholders.
   
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Centre for Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf, hailed the government for listening to them, adding that responsiveness to the concerns of stakeholders remains a critical attribute of true democracy.

He went on to stress that there are already extant laws and regulations within the framework of Nigeria Immigration Act and Expatriate Quota Handbook that squarely address the outcomes contemplated in the EEL. 
   

Yusuf added that there is also the National Content Act and Presidential Executive Orders 3and 5, which focus on localisation of procurement and employment opportunities.    
  
He said what needed to be done differently was to strengthen institutional and regulatory effectiveness in the Ministry of Interior and Nigeria Immigration Service for compliance and enforcement.
  
“These are the gaps that need to be addressed. We really do not need a new policy, regulation or handbook on employment of expatriates. A new regulation or policy will be superfluous. The current regulations or handbook could be tweaked, if necessary.   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,” the CPPE boss added.
  
He said these are some of the issues that should be addressed by the authorities, as competition with local struggling market women and men is unfair.