Passport fee hike: ITUC-Africa scribe, Odigie urges Tinubu for reversal, seamless visa regime

The General Secretary of the African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa), Comrade Akhator Joel Odigie, has condemned the recent hike in the cost of obtaining Nigerian passports, describing the decision as “disappointing, frustrating and angering.” He has also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and order an immediate reversal.

Speaking to our reporter, Odigie, said there was “no rationale” for the increment, stressing that Nigerians were not informed of what necessitated it. According to him, government agencies that were never designed to generate revenue were now being converted into “money-making machines,” at the expense of ordinary citizens already weighed down by hardship on account of Naira devaluation, stagnant wages and runaway inflation.

“Overnight, government institutions, even those not meant to generate revenue, are being turned into money-making machines,” Odigie lamented. “Look at JAMB. Overnight, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board became a money-spinning machine, contrary to the purpose for which it was established, which is to standardise education and improve citizens’ competence. Now, we are seeing the Nigerian Immigration Service follow the same path,” he said.

The trade union leader said the policy was particularly insensitive, coming at a time when Nigerians were desperately seeking economic and social redemption. Sadly, they are being subjected to harsh policies that “deepen and worsen hardship and misery.”

“This is not how to drive reform,” he declared. Adding: “If reform is meant to benefit the people, why design it in a way that kills them? Who will be alive to enjoy the so-called medium – and long-term benefits when the short-term reality is unbearable? People can not even cook again. What is the rationale? We are still struggling with the last increment, yet the government comes again with another price hike”.

Odigie criticised the manner in which the hike was imposed, describing it as “imperial and arrogant,” noting that Nigerians were neither given prior notice nor the opportunity to adjust. “That is not democracy. That is policy imposition. And it is unacceptable,” he said.

He further expressed disappointment that the Ministry of Interior, which labour and civil society had engaged to reform Nigeria’s visa regime and make it friendlier to visitors, was taking the opposite direction. He pointed out that countries like Uganda and Tanzania charge a flat $50 visa fee for all Africans, while Kenya has gone further by scrapping visa requirements for Africans entirely, thereby boosting mobility, tourism and integration.

“Meanwhile, Nigeria is still charging exploitative and inconsistent fees, including fraudulent biometric charges handled by private companies likely connected to those in government. That is ‘job for the boys,’” Odigie charged. “When I enter Nigeria and other African countries, immigration collects my fingerprints, my photograph, my details. That is biometric capture. Why then should other Africans be forced to pay a separate ‘biometric fee’? It is fraud, plain and simple.”

The ITUC-Africa chief described the hike in passport fees as an assault on citizenship, stressing that passports are meant to serve as a basic national identity, not a profit-making venture. “When did it become a crime to be a citizen? Increasing passport fees overnight without consultation, without transparency, is unacceptable,” he said.

Instead of targeting ordinary Nigerians, Odigie urged the government to explore alternative revenue measures that would not inflict additional suffering. “If the government is looking for revenue, it should be more imaginative and humane. It should tax the rich. Tax luxury. Put a small levy, say $2, on foreign flight tickets, you’ll raise more money consistently because of the turnover. But don’t tax passports. A citizen only renews once in five years. That is not even a smart way to raise revenue. It is politically and economically banal.”

Odigie insisted that President Tinubu must act swiftly to halt the increment, describing it as “inappropriate, terribly timed, insensitive and ill-thought-out.” He concluded his remarks with a pointed reminder of the President’s campaign rhetoric. “So, I say clearly: the President must call the relevant authorities to order. This increase is inappropriate. The timing is terrible. The approach is insensitive. The idea itself is ill-thought-out. It should be withdrawn immediately. Let me borrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s words: Let the poor breathe. Let the people breathe.”

NLC, GIZ seek amplified awareness to curb risky migration among Nigerian youths

The German Development Agency (GIZ), in collaboration with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has called for increased awareness to help Nigerian youths make informed decisions on migration and avoid falling prey to exploitation and irregular migration pathways.

Speaking at a one day workshop in Abuja themed “Youth on the Move: Securing Migrant Workers’ Rights in ECOWAS and Beyond” to commemorate International Youth Day, Sandra Vermuitjten-Alonge, Head of Programme for GIZ’s Centres for Migration and Development (ZME), noted that migration is an issue deeply rooted in the daily realities of Nigerian youths, with many seeking “greener pastures” abroad.

She reiterated the commitment of the GIZ to support Nigerian youths with relevant information to help them make better choices in terms migration and employment, both in the ECOWAS region and beyond.

She said: “Some of the main driving motivation for people to look for so-called greener pastures is not always necessarily the total absence of employment, but it’s also, of course, about working conditions, about access to public services and about security.”

Vermuitjten-Alonge said trade unions have a major role to play in not just providing relevant information, but also ensuring that the labour and human rights of migrants are protected.

Vermuitjten-Alonge explained that GIZ, on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, has been working in Nigeria since 2017 to strengthen national structures that provide information and support to youths on employment and migration opportunities both locally and abroad.

She emphasised that curbing risky migration goes beyond information-sharing, saying that it must also be tied to defending human rights, promoting decent work, and ensuring that no young person is oppressed or exploited.

Also speaking, the acting General Secretary of the NLC, Comrade Benson Upah, said that despite the opportunities for free movement under ECOWAS protocols, many young Nigerians remain unaware of their rights and safe migration channels.

According to him, the rising surge in irregular migration is worsened by the growing hostility against migrant workers globally, particularly those from developing countries who often face discrimination, exploitation, precarious jobs, and weak legal protections.

“The ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol guarantees rights to mobility, residence, and establishment. However, more needs to be done to raise awareness and ensure implementation, as it remains weak, especially among youths,” Upah said.

He added that “Nigeria, with its large youth population, must ensure young people, whether potential migrants or returnees, are equipped with knowledge, tools, and platforms to advocate for migrant rights.”

He stressed that the NLC is working with stakeholders to build the capacity of young workers and affiliates to advocate for migrant rights, adding that awareness forums like this are vital in mobilizing youths for protection and policy engagement.

Upah said: “As we use this forum to raise awareness among young Nigerians on migrant workers’ rights and regional protection mechanisms, we should also highlight the challenges faced by young migrant workers, especially from developing nations, in hostile foreign environments.

“The promotion of youth engagement in advocacy and policy dialogues related to migration and labour rights is a critical way to protect migrant workers’ rights.”

He called for cross-sector collaboration among government, civil society, and international actors to amplify youth voices in migration governance.

The workshop brought together youth representatives, civil society organisations, and labour leaders, and forms part of engagements organised by NLC and GIZ to amplify youth voices in migration governance.

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