NIS requests better working conditions and more capability

The Senate has received a plea from the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) requesting approval of better working conditions, competitive pay, and frequent promotions for NIS employees.

During a conversation with the Senate Committee on Interior, Mrs. Caroline Adepoju, the Acting Comptroller General of the NIS, made the appeal.

According to Adepoju, the NIS’s terms of service should be comparable to those of its sister organisations, particularly in terms of pay.

She bemoaned the stark discrepancy between the compensation earned by its employees and that of other sibling agencies.

The acting CGI claimed that this was demoralising and discouraging to military members while they carried out their legal obligations.

Adepoju also bemoaned the officers’ irregular promotion status, pointing out that many of the staff had been stuck at a certain grade level for years without receiving a promotion.

She noted that room for advancement was necessary and that the staff’s ability to carry out their duties effectively needed to be strengthened.

The head of immigration also demanded better resources and planning so that the NIS could carry out its duties, such as providing E-gates, effectively.

She claims that in order to adequately staff the airports, sea borders, and land borders, more people must be hired.

“As NIS personnel, our pay is supposed to be comparable to that of the Nigeria Police Force and Customs Service, but it is inadequate and does not allow us to afford a place to live.

People are discouraged by our lengthy promotion process, thus we need to examine eligibility and the promotion evaluation procedure.

“In order to break up stagnation among NIS staff, we must create openings.

“We need improved office and residential spaces in each of our states, as well as border security. We also need logistics—land, air, and sea—to support border management.”

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She pointed out that despite the initial difficulties, the service she oversaw had nearly eliminated the backlog of passport applications.

Adepoju continued, saying that the administration was prepared and dedicated to enhancing its service delivery mandate in accordance with President Bola Tinubu’s reaffirmed hope agenda.

Adepoju’s submission was confirmed by Alhaji Ja’afar Mohammed, the Secretary of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Correctional Services, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps Board.

He clarified that the board had faced difficulties in the past, citing the board’s ad hoc nature.

The secretary claimed that in order to determine an employee’s eligibility for promotions and retirement, the board lacked a complete database of NIS workers.

He claims that in order to obtain the records, the board depends on the agencies.

He did, however, point out that the board had made significant decisions about repositioning the agency since its founding and promised to collaborate with the committee to continue achieving success.

“The board has been repositioned to function as an independent body; we want to collaborate with the committee to establish it as such.”

Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, the committee’s chairman, stated that the purpose of the meeting was to gain firsthand knowledge and an overview of the difficulties the service is facing.

He explained that this would allow the committee to step in, provide support, and develop strategies for resolving the problems.

Oshiomhole acknowledged that the service had many difficulties, but said that the committee will consider the problems and follow the law in carrying out its duties for the sake of Nigerians.

“The goal is to solve problems and enhance services for Nigerians, not to wallow in sorrow.”

At the meeting, committee members alternatedly posed concerns about delayed passport issuance to Nigerians, illegal immigrants in Nigeria, the internal income generating profile, and the remittance of the NIS. In NAN