The Federal Government has raised charges for international passport services. It makes the Immigration Services the latest to host the roving taxman going from place to place raising charges.
The reasons for the upward review effective from September is to increase quality and integrity of the passport, a suggestion that the current versions lack those qualities even though there are no such outcries anywhere.
From September, the 32-page booklet will move from 35 to 50, 000 Naira. Similarly, the 64-page booklet will move from 70 to 100, 000 Naira. The details are categorically stated in the press release issued to that effect.
What of those who need passport renewal or new booklet but who cannot pay? It doesn’t look like the writer of the press release had any instructions on that beyond regretting the inconveniences it may cause to users.
It seems to be that, after all, the cost of petrol, electricity, food and every other items have gone up and the heavens did not fall. So, why can’t that of passport go up?
No one knows the tax man’s next bus stop
