Migration is the relocation from one place to another, whether temporarily or permanently, and can be either legal or illegal. In Nigeria, migration has become a prevalent phenomenon among young people. This article examines merit-based migration.
They are eager to leave their country in a bid to search for greener pastures elsewhere, and not just in developed countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Canada, and the like. They just want to leave the country at all costs for so many reasons.
In recent times, the rate at which Nigerians, especially youths, migrate out of the country calls for concern. Desperation has made people misbehave in an attempt to wanting to leave the country.
There are many cases of impersonation by some Nigerians who just want to travel overseas anyhow. Some even travel via unsafe and illegal routes.
The question is, should people be involved in illegal migration, all in the name of a bad economy and insecurity in the country?
What should people do if the need to relocate arises, and what should be the role of the family, church and society to educate members against illegal migration?
We should all note that the most essential issue in migration is due to the following legal processes.
1. Philosophers’ Views on Migration
According to Webster’s Dictionary, the term is defined as “the act or an instance of moving from one country, region to settle in another,” and it is also defined as “an act of moving from one area to another in search of work.”
2. Types of Migration
The commonest types of migration are as follows.
- Internal migration: It is the type of migration whereby people move to a new place/home within the same state or country.
- External or international migration: This is the movement of people to a new place/home in a different state, country or continent.
- Emigration: This is described as the process of leaving one place or country, especially when a native country settles in another.
- Immigration: It is the movement of non-native people into a country to settle there.
- Population Transfer: This is a process whereby the government forces a group of people to leave a region based on religion or ethnicity. It is also called involuntary or enforced migration.
- Impelled/imposed: This refers to a situation when people are forced to leave a country because of unfavourable situations like religious persecution, political unrest or war.
- Step migration: This examines a series of short and less extreme movements from one place of origin to another.
- Return migration: It is a voluntary movement of immigrants to their place of origin.
- Seasonal migration: It is the movement for a specific time due to the climate.
- Chain migration: It entails a movement whereby a relative is able to help his or her other family members relocate to a new place.
3. Causes of Migration
There are two main causes of migration. They are push factors and pull factors. The differences are discussed below.
Push factors
Such factors include poverty, high rate of unemployment, internal conflicts and wars, natural disasters, low income, lack of career development, and famine.
A good example is that of Elimelek and his family members, who relocated to Moab because of famine in Bethlehem.
Pull factors
These are positive expectations, which attract people to a new place. Basically, the factors include industrial development, highly paid labour, cheap international transport, and easy access to information due to the telephone and the Internet.
Other reasons include failing birthrates, rapid economic expansion, better job opportunities and more.
Many people like to move to countries like the United Kingdom (UK), the United States of America (USA), Canada and many more simply because of the pull factors.
Push Factors Pull Factors
There is unemployment. There is potential for employment
There is a lack of services or amenities. There is a better service provision
There is poor safety and security. We have a safer atmosphere here
We have a concern about high crime rates. We have low crime rates
There is a crop failure. We have fertile land
There is a severe drought. There are good food supplies
There is flooding. There is less risk of natural hazards
There is abject poverty. We have a greater wealth or affluence
There is war. There is political security
There is s more attractive climate
There is a more attractive quality of life
4. Merit-Based Migration (Legal Migration)
Some decades ago, many Nigerians and citizens from other developing or less-developed countries enjoyed the benefit of the Diversity Visa Lottery.
It was a form of legal migration to a developed country, though not merit-based. But our focus of this section of the article is on merit-based migration.
Merit-based migration is a type of legal migration. A legal migration is a movement that conforms to the applicable rules and regulations of the country of origin, transit and destination.
5. Types of Legal Migration
These are five types of legal migration.
Family reunification
This migration is obtained by an individual on the basis that his or her family member is a citizen of another country.
Employment sponsorship
This type of migration status is attained because an individual is an employee of a foreign company which decides to relocate the residence of such employees to its own country.
Merit-based migration
It is the use of an individual’s skills to determine his or her migration capacity/status.
Humanitarian cases (refugee and asylum adjustment)
This type of migration occurs due to the magnanimity of a foreign country to offer, either temporary/permanent, protection to victims of a humanitarian crisis who happen to be citizens of a foreign country who are experiencing crises such as war, insurgencies, killings, etc.
Temporary non-immigrants (foreign students, tourists, and H-IB workers)
This type is temporary and is given to individuals who wish to study abroad for a limited period or those who travel during the holidays for leisure. It also applies to those whose working period in a foreign country is for a particular duration.
6. Pros and Cons of Merit-Based Migration
Merit-based migration is also known as a Points-based migration. It is a type of migration where a non-citizen’s eligibility to immigrate is determined by various factors, such as the non-citizen’s ability to score above a threshold number of points in a scoring system.
That might include education level, wealth, connection with the country, language fluency, existing job offer, and others. Such criteria may include no criminal record or no involvement with terrorist organisations.
7. Pros of Merit-based Migration
The following are some of the advantages of merit-based migration.
Increased wages
Merit-based migration lowers the immigration rates and ensures that the immigrants who migrate into the country are highly skilled and less likely to be in need of public assistance.
Fairness
It is fair to everyone because it discourages any form of discrimination based on sex, colour or tribe.
Transparency
One of the major advantages of a merit-based system is that it is largely transparent in the sense that potential applicants can review the selection criteria to determine whether they can reach the pass mark.
As a result, applicants arguably have a better chance of success because they know exactly what skills they need.
8. Cons of Merit-based Migration
Disadvantages of merit-based migration may include the following.
Large-scale data collection
Merit-based migration requires large and detailed data collection on the immigration process and immigrants’ performance over time. This necessary process is costly.
Non-reduction in migration and openness to abuse
This type does not necessarily reduce/control immigration. It leads to abuse, especially where the criteria for selecting immigrants are not managed and adjusted over time.
Human rights restrictions
The system forbids freedom of movement and discriminates against large classes of foreign nationals, both of which are designated as human rights under international law.
Limitations of the movement of human capital
The system restricts the movement of human capital by limiting the number of foreign nationals who can lawfully immigrate into a country. This may not necessarily be a sound economic policy.
Ineffectiveness in countries where implemented
It is not entirely confirmed that this system is effective in the countries where it is being practised. For instance, the Canadian programme has become notorious for extremely long waiting times and for underutilising the highly skilled foreign nationals.
Conclusion
Without doubt, today’s lesson has been a blessing. It is an eye-opener to those who wish to migrate to another country.
We have been enlightened on the forms of legal migration that can be applied for, the advantages and disadvantages of merit-based migration.
Therefore, those who desire to relocate must endeavour to embark on legal migration and not the other way round.
Above all, you should remember that the best decision is one involving God’s leading and direction, which is always true and right. Read a similar post on this page.
Editors
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