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Nigeria, Two Others Lead Countries With Health, Care Visa
The 2024 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development International Migration Outlook report has shown that the top three nationalities for the Health and Care visa for 2023 were Indians, Nigerians, and Zimbabweans.
In a statement issued recently but made available to The Tide on Saturday, the Health and Care visa is a skilled worker visa available for those who are taking on a role in eligible health or social care jobs or who are qualified doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals, or adult social care professionals.
The OECD’s annual publication analyses recent developments in migration movements and policies in its countries. Each edition provides the latest statistical information on immigrant stocks and flows, immigrants in the labour market, and migration policies.
It said in 2023, migration to OECD countries reached record levels for the second year in a row, as not only have 6.5 million permanent migrants arrived in the last year but the number of temporary migrants and asylum seekers have skyrocketed.
The increasing migration flows raise legitimate concerns, according to the report, but they also point to major opportunities.
It noted that buoyant labour demand in host countries has been a key driver of migration over the past two years, and international cooperation on migration is gradually progressing.
It added that in many OECD countries facing widespread labour shortages and looming demographic changes, growing numbers of labour migrants have contributed to sustained economic growth.
The increasing migration flows raise legitimate concerns, according to the report, but they also point to major opportunities.
It noted that buoyant labour demand in host countries has been a key driver of migration over the past two years, and international cooperation on migration is gradually progressing.
It added that in many OECD countries facing widespread labour shortages and looming demographic changes, growing numbers of labour migrants have contributed to sustained economic growth.
The report read, “The United Kingdom is the other country where family migration soared, with 373,000 new family migrants in 2023, a 60 per cent increase compared to 2022. Seventy percent of family migrants in the United Kingdom were accompanying family members of labour migrants.
“The Health and Care visa for accompanying family members accounted for the bulk of the increase. Indeed, more than half of family migrants who settled in the United Kingdom in 2023 benefited from this visa (203,000, against 81,000 in 2022). Starting March 2024, new care workers under the Health and Care visa are no longer eligible to sponsor accompanying dependents.
“The top three nationalities for the Health and Care visa were Indians (58,000,+75 per cent compared to 2022), Nigerians (51,000, +204 per cent), and Zimbabweans (25 100, +153 per cent).”
On contrasting trends in permanent-type labour migration across OECD countries, the report revealed that permanent labour migration to OECD countries remained at a high level in 2023 with just under 1.2 million workers, as in 2022.
“Almost a quarter of these migrant workers went to the United Kingdom (282 000, 48 per cent more than in 2022) of which more than half were health professionals issued a “Skilled worker visa – Health and care”. In 2023, Canada admitted 145,000 workers as permanent residents (+seven per cent), including 52,000 through Provincial Nominee Programs (+37 per cent).
“A record number of approximately 93,000 migrant workers settled in Germany in 2023. Several other countries registered record figures for permanent labour migration in 2023, including Japan and France (90,000 and 59,000, respectively), and Korea and Greece, although at lower levels (13,000 and 12,000, respectively).
“Labour migration to the United States (excluding accompanying family) fell quite sharply in 2023 compared to 2022 (by -43 per cent, to 82,000). However, the overall level remained relatively high and higher than pre-2021 levels. Labour migration decreased from 2022 to 2023 in half of the observed countries, including New Zealand (-46 per cent), Ireland (-23 per cent), the Netherlands (-15 per cent), Estonia (-37 per cent), and Lithuania (-55 per cent), all of which had received record worker inflows in 2022.”
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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