Nigerian labour leaders have criticised the Federal Government for the planned increase of the fee to be paid by Nigerians to secure a Nigerian traveling passport.
According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), 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 NAN on Wednesday in Lagos that many workers would not be able to travel abroad unless the fee is reviewed downwards.
The Deputy General Secretary of the United Labour Congress, Mr Chris Onyeka, told NAN that it was insensitive to increase the price of travel documents at a time Nigerians were contending with economic challenges.
”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.
“The fact that the NIS has extended the number of years from five to 10 years is not a good reason to triple the cost of the passport.’’
Onyeka pleaded with the NIS to reduce the price to N40,000 or N50,000 to enable the populace to afford the document.