Labour leaders have criticized the Federal Government for the planned increase of the fee to be paid by Nigerians to secure travel document. The Nigerian Immigration Service had announced that the new e-passport, to be valid for 10 years, will cost N70,000 with effect from March 4.
The labour leaders told newsmen in Lagos today that many workers will not be able to travel abroad unless the fee is reviewed downwards.
The Deputy General Secretary of the United Labour Congress, Mr Chris Onyeka, said that it is insensitive to increase the price of travel documents at a time Nigerians were contending with economic challenges. He noted that the government finds it difficult to pay N30,000 to workers, but it is easy to increase the cost of getting a passport from N22,000 to N70,000.
Onyeka pleaded with the NIS to reduce the price to N40,000 or N50,000 to enable the populace to afford the document.
Similarly, the TUC in a statement said that the fee hike will affect many Nigerians, who had been using their travelling passports for transactions.
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