In a public notice dated 8th November 2023, the Federal Ministry of Interior (“the Ministry”) announced a significant update regarding the filing of Monthly Quota Returns, reflecting its commitment to excellent service delivery. The notice mandates all Companies with approved Expatriate Quota positions to transition to the Ministry’s eCitibiz portal for the submission of Monthly Quota returns effective from the date of the Circular.

The Ministry’s decision marks a comprehensive departure from the traditional manual submission process to a more efficient and streamlined electronic system. This transition is aligned with the broader efforts of the Federal Government to modernize regulatory processes and contribute to the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

To ensure Compliance to the circular, the Ministry also introduced penalties for Companies failing to adhere to the new electronic submission process. These penalties would come into effect from January 2024, and they are as follows:

  1. Failure to file within the first ten days of the month – N100,000
  2. Failure to file after 20 days    –    N150,000
  3. Failure to pay after 25days –    N200,000

Actions for compliance

Companies with expatriate quota facilities are strongly advised to prioritize compliance by ensuring the prompt monthly filing of quota returns before the tenth day of the following month. This proactive approach is crucial to avoiding penalties and maintaining the security of their expatriate quota allocations. The public notice can be accessed here