Group Urges NASS to Stop New Passport Fee Hike

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The National Assembly has been called upon to immediately intervene in the recently approved upward review of international passport fees in Nigeria, describing the increase as “an unconscionable burden” on ordinary citizens.

In an open letter on Sunday by HallowMace Foundation Africa, addressed to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the group said the new charges — ₦100,000 for a 32-page passport with five-year validity and ₦200,000 for a 64-page passport with ten-year validity — are disproportionately high when compared with Nigeria’s minimum wage and global standards.

According to the letter signed by the Executive Director of the group, Anderson Osiebe, the Foundation, with the new minimum wage pegged at ₦70,000 ($42), a 32-page passport now costs 143% of a month’s salary, forcing low-income earners to work for over one and a half months without any other expenses just to afford the travel document.

Citing international comparisons, the group noted that passport fees in most countries are less than 20% of monthly minimum wages, with advanced economies like the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom keeping the ratio under 15%. By contrast, Nigeria’s new rates stand out as “a global outlier.”

“The proposed fee increase effectively violates the fundamental right to freedom of movement enshrined in Section 41 of the Constitution,” the letter stated. “It creates a class-based system where international mobility becomes the privilege of the wealthy.”

The Foundation further argued that the hike comes at a time when Nigerians are grappling with inflation of 33.7%, currency devaluation, and poor wage compliance by many employers, making the costs even more unaffordable in practice.

As part of its recommendations, the group urged the National Assembly to:

* Place a moratorium on the new fees pending legislative review.

* Hold public hearings involving civil society, labour unions, and stakeholders.

* Legislate a fair pricing framework pegging passport costs at no more than 10% of the national minimum wage.

* Demand service delivery benchmarks from the Nigeria Immigration Service before any fee review.

* Explore subsidies for students, low-income workers, and senior citizens.

The Foundation also questioned the justification offered by the Nigeria Immigration Service, noting that countries with more advanced passport technologies charge significantly less, while previous increases have not translated into improved processing or delivery times.

“The government is resorting to punitive pricing rather than achieving efficiency through technology and improved management,” the letter read.

The HallowMace Foundation said it is ready to present its full position before relevant committees of the National Assembly, urging lawmakers to act in defence of citizens’ rights and economic realities.