Open letter for the legislative intervention on the increase in Nigeria international passport taxes

Open letter for the legislative intervention on the increase in Nigeria international passport taxes

* Date:* September 7, 2025

*A: The President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria*

*A: The rapporteur of the Chamber of representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria*

*From: Hallowmace Foundation Africa*

*Subject: urgent request for legislative intervention on the exorbitant increase in international passport taxes and the remuneration of poor workers in Nigeria*

Your excellence,

We, the Hallowmace Foundation Africa, a non -governmental organization dedicated to the promotion of social justice, to good governance and economic equity throughout the African continent, bring to your urgent attention the *recent revision approved upwards *of the Nigerian international passport expenses (5 years). 64 pages (validity at 10 years)*, represents an inconceivable burden*on normal Nigerians and requires your immediate legislative intervention.

1 *comparative analysis of the commissions of the global passport and minimum wages *

1.1 *The Nigerian context: an outliers in an economic passport *

If placed in a global context, the passport costs proposed by Nigeria become particularly very well. With the * new national minimum salary * set at * ₦ ₦ ₦ ₦ ₦ ₦ ₦ ₦ ₦ ₦ ₦ $ 70,000 per month * (about $ 42 USD), the cost of a 32 -page passport will consume * 143% of the a month salary * for a minimum wage gain. This means that a medium Nigerian worker should work for * over a month and a half * without any expense to afford a basic travel document, a situation that effectively makes exclusive international mobility for the rich elite.

1.2 *International comparison: Passport cost as a percentage of the minimum wages *

*Global comparison of passport costs compared to the minimum wages*

NIGERIA

Minimum salary = ₦ 70.000 ($ 42)

Passport Commission = ₦ 100.000 ($ 60)

Percentage = 143%

UNITED STATES

Minimum salary $ 1,160 |

Passport Commission = $ 165

Percentage = 14%

GERMANY

Minimum salary = € 1,986 ($ 2,172)

Passport commissions = € 70 ($ 77)

Percentage = 3.5%

UNITED KINGDOM

Minimum salary = £ 1.954 ($ 2,499)

Passport commissions £ 94.50 ($ 120)

Percentage = 4.8%

INDIA

Minimum salary = £ 3,560 ($ 42)

Passport commissions = £ 1,500 ($ 18)

Percentage of 42%

**SOUTH AFRICA*

Minimum salary = Tsar 4.606 ($ 245)

Passport commissions = Tsar 600 ($ 32)

Percentage 13%

GHANA

Minimum salary, GHS 544.50 ($ 45)

Passport commissions = GHS 350 ($ 29)

Percentage = 64%

China

Minimum salary = CNY 2,690 ($ 370)

Passports Free = CNY 120 ($ 17)

Percentage = 4.5%

*Sources:*

As highlighted by the comparative data, Nigeria is a * global outlier * in the disproportionate relationship between the costs of the passport and the minimum wage. While other nations maintain the passport commissions to * less than 20% * of the minimum monthly salary (with most of the developed countries that maintain it below 5%), the structure of the proposed commissions of Nigeria exceeds * 100% * of the monthly profits, an unparalleled situation in any other part of the world.

2 *socio-economic impact of the increase in the fee of the passport *

2.1 *The decreasing right to mobility *

The increase in commissions actually proposed * violates the fundamental right * to freedom of movement as sanctioned by section 41 of the Nigerian Constitution and in article 12 of the international alliance on civil and political rights, to which Nigeria is signed. By putting the passport services financially out of reach for most citizens, the government is * creating a class * mobility rights system in which international travels are reserved exclusively for the rich.

2.2 *Compound effect of economic difficulties *

This increase in the passport commission comes at a time when the Nigerians are struggling with records from record * (33.7% in April 2025), currency devaluation and inadequate public services. The * gap of implementation * Among the official minimum wage policies and the actual remuneration further aggravates this situation: while the official wage is ₦ 70,000, many employers continue to pay the previous salary of ₦ 30,000 or less, making the passport even more expensive prohibitive for the Nigerian staff.

3 *legal and constitutional considerations *

3.1 *The liability of legislative supervision *

The National Assembly, as *direct representatives of the people *, holds the constitutional supervision authority on executive actions. Section 88 (1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution allows the legislator to “expose corruption, inefficiency or waste in the execution or administration of laws within its legislative competence and in the provision or administration of appropriate funds”. The increase in the proposed passport commission, without adequate legislative consultation or consideration of its impact on citizens, represents an overcoming of the executive authority * which requires your urgent intervention.

3.2 *questionable justification for the increase in commissions *

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) justified the increase, if necessary, to “support the quality and integrity* of the Nigerian passport”. However, this justification appears questionable when considering:

– Many countries with more advanced passport technologies * are significantly less charged than income

– The * production cost * of biometric passports has decreased globally due to technological progress

– the increases of the previous commissions * have not involved proportionate improvements * in the times of providing the service or processing

4 *Recommendations for legislative intervention *

We respectfully solve the national assembly to take the following immediate actions:

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4. *Improve the delivery of the service *: Mandate that the Nigeria immigration service meets the specific benchmark of the delivery of the service (including the processing time not exceeding 2-3 weeks as previously promised by the Minister of the Interior) before any increase in the commissions may be taken into consideration.

5. *Increase transparency *: request the NIS to publicly reveal the division of detailed costs of the production and processing of passports to justify any adjustments of the future commissions.

6. *Consider subsidies *: explore the possibilities of partial subsidies for the acquisition of the passport for some categories of citizens (students, low -income workers, elderly) as practiced in other countries.

*5 Conclusion: to support the social contract*

Your excellence, the increase in the proposed passport tax represent more than a simple financial burden: it symbolizes the * breakage of the social contract * between the Nigerian government and its citizens. At a time when the country should encourage global connectivity, the exchange of knowledge and economic opportunities abroad, this policy actually blocks * ordinary rules * of the global community.

We remember the words of the Interior Minister, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who promised to “digitize the passport demand process*” and reduce the processing times to “*between two and three weeks*”. Instead of achieving efficiency through technology and better management, the government is resorting to * punitive prices * that disadvantage the same citizens that serves.

The HallowMace Africa Foundation implores the national assembly to exercise its * constitutional authority * as the true representatives of the people to intervene in this matter. We must work together to ensure that government policies promote equity, protect fundamental rights and consider the socio -economic realities of normal Nigerians.

We ask for the opportunity to present our complete position in front of the relevant legislative committees and be ready to provide further information or assistance requests.

Respectfully sent,

*Signed by:*

– *Anderson Osiebe *

Executive director

*Hallowmace Foundation Africa*

08037981940

– *Amb. Oguh Hyginus John*

Public communication officer

*Hallowmace Foundation Africa*

0805414610

*CC:*

– *President, Committee for the interior of the Senate *

– *President, Chamber Committee on the interiors *

– *President, Committee of the National Diaspora’s Assembly *

– *Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) *

– *Union Congress (TUC) *

– *Media Houses *