The Australian Department of Home Affairs has announced plans to grant 6 month renewal window to skilled worker visa holders in their country.

This was disclosed in significant revisions to visa conditions 8107, 8607, and 8608, set to take effect from July 1, 2024.

According to authorities these changes aim to address unfair labor practices and enhance the labor market mobility for temporary migrants holding the following visas: Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457), Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 494).

The new update highlights the extended flexibility for visa holders who cease employment with their sponsoring employer. Under the new regulations, these individuals will have up to 180 days at a time,(6 months) with a cumulative maximum of 365 days(1 year) during the visa period, to secure new sponsorship, apply for a new visa, or arrange departure from the country- Visa guide first reported.

During this grace period, visa holders are permitted to work for other employers, including in occupations not listed in their most recent sponsorship nomination, enabling them to sustain themselves while seeking new sponsorship.

The Department of Home Affairs mandates that sponsors must notify any changes in the visa holder’s employment status within 28 days.

Furthermore, visa holders are prohibited from engaging in work inconsistent with the license or registration requirements for their nominated occupation.

“The changes apply to existing visa holders, as well as those granted a visa on or after 1 July 2024. Any periods a visa holder stopped working for their sponsor before 1 July 2024 will not count towards the new time periods outlined above.” the Australian authorities stated.

Seyi Makinde, Oyo state governor, says President Bola Tinubu has approved the upgrade of Ibadan airport into international standard.

Makinde spoke on Wednesday when he received Hassan Baba Abubakar, the chief of air staff of the Nigeria air force (NAF), at the governor’s office in Ibadan.

The governor said the upgrade, which would commence in the next three weeks, would include the construction of a new terminal, runway and other structural features.

He said the project would be handled by experts and delivered to standard.

The politician said his administration had spent the last five years turning around the state’s economy and has identified the need for the upgrade of the Ibadan airport as being central to its economic expansion agenda.

“Since I came into office, this administration has focused on education, agriculture, health and expansion of our economy,” Makinde said.

“We have been talking to the Presidency and we got a response from them early this week that the President has graciously approved my request for Ibadan Airport to be upgraded.

“I will be in Abuja soon to get the documents relating to the approval. And within three weeks, we will start the project. We will expand the runway and build a new terminal.”

Makinde said his government’s resolve to build infrastructure that targets the economic expansion agenda has also seen it investing resources on the 110 kilometres Ibadan circular road.

He said his administration would consider the air force’s request for land for its post-retirement housing scheme on the circular road corridor.

The governor appreciated Abubakar for his officers’ effort in working with sister security agencies to secure Oyo state, urging that the cordial relationship between the force and the people of the state be maintained.

He said the air force has been a major contributor to maintenance of internal security in the state as its personnel have been working closely with Operation Burst.

Makinde reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to collaborating with the air force to complete its base in Ajia and assured that the road leading to the base would be completed promptly as promised.

He said the government is fixing multiple roads around the air force base to facilitate the easy movement of personnel and equipment, including the Ajia-Airport road with a spur to Amuloko and the Amuloko-Dagbolu-Ijebu Igbo roads.

In his remarks, Abubakar described the governor as a visionary leader, thanking him for his support to the air force.

He acknowledged the governor’s focus on economic development and enhancing security in the state.

The chief of air staff commended the governor for acquiring 60 hectares of land for the air force base at Ajia and providing security operational vehicles.

Abubakar, however, urged the governor to expedite action on the ongoing 10 kilometers Ajia-Airport road so as to ease movement of his force’s activities.

He assured that the force would maintain its support for the state and strengthen the mutual relationship.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says the foreign exchange (FX) price verification system (PVS) portal used by importers has been discontinued.

The CBN disclosed this in a statement on Thursday signed W. J. Kanya, its acting director of trade and exchange department.

In August 2023, the CBN had said price verification from the portal was mandatory for all Form M requests.

The Form M is a document used to declare the intention to import physical goods into Nigeria.

According to the statement, importers would no longer need the portal to validate Form M applications from July 1.

“We refer to the circular dated August 17, 2023, referenced TED/FEM/PUB/FPC/001/008 and titled Price Verification System Portal’ on the deployment of the Price Verification System (PVS),” the statement reads.

“Given recent developments in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market, the CBN hereby discontinues the Price Verification System (PVS).

“Consequently, with effect from July 01, 2024, all applications for Form ‘M’ shall be validated without the Price Verification Report generated from the Price Verification Portal.

“For the avoidance of doubt, by this circular, the Price Verification Report is no longer a requirement for the completion of a Form ‘M’.”

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to enhance local currency liquidity, the apex bank, on June 25, said measures have been implemented to allow eligible international money transfer operators (IMTOs) access to naira liquidity at the official window.