The Nation Newspaper

Tag: immigration

  • Senate seeks to partner Immigration

    The Senate Committee on Local Content has called on the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to partner the Senate in ensuring that the Local Content Act is strictly applied in expatriate quota.

    According to the committee, the move will secure employment for Nigerians and prevent transfer of foreign exchange in the name of engaging foreign experts.

    Speaking during a working visit to NIS Headquarters in Abuja, Chairman of the committee Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Lagos West) said the Eighth Senate would see that the Local Content Act of 2010 is fully enforced in the oil and gas industry.

    The senator said it would ensure Nigerians were employed in the industry.

    Adeola added that the committee will amend the Act to cover other areas where foreigners deprive Nigerians of jobs and capital flight.

    The senator said the expertise of NIS would be needed when the committee visits companies covered by the Act, adding that qualified graduates in oil and gas are roaming the streets without jobs whereas expatriates are collecting fat salaries on jobs that Nigerians can conveniently undertake.

    Comptroller General of Immigration Mohammed Babandede said youth agitation in Niger Delta could be solved by effective implementation of Local Content Act since expatriates are taken over jobs that could be done by locals.

  • PTAD: 13,150 Customs, Immigration, other pensioners on payroll

    The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has a record of over 13,150 verified pensioners and Next of Kins (NOKs) from the para – military services of Customs, Immigration and Prisons on its database, Executive Secretary, Sharon Ikeazor, has said.

    Mrs Ikeazor, who made this known in a statement to journalists, said the directorate has also paid all the pension increases including 33 per cent to all its pensioners except those who are not on the payroll, some NOKs and a few isolated cases.

    She stated that the pensioners are under the management of the Customs Immigration and Prisons Pension Department (CIPPD) of the Directorate and also under the Defined Benefit  Scheme (DBS).

    She noted that the Customs Immigration and Prisons Pension Department was first established by Decree 75 of 1993 as Customs Immigration and Prisons Pension Office (CIPPO) with the primary objective of managing pension funds for the benefit of retirees from the para – military services of Customs, Immigration and Prisons.

    She said  it was merged into PTAD in August 2013.

    She said: ‘’The responsibility of pension payment to retired officers was previously carried out by Office of Establishment and Pensions which is now known as the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF). However, in the year 1991, the police and para-military pension offices were created, leaving out only the civil service pensions to be handled by the OHCSF.

    “The office started operations in the year 1990 and was saddled with the responsibility of payment of retirement benefits i.e. gratuity and monthly pension to the officers who retired from the three services of Customs, Immigration & Prisons. The office was also responsible for the computation and payment of death benefits to Next of Kin (NOK) of officers who died while in service and for those officers who died after retirement but could not access their retirement benefits.”

    She pointed out that those officers who retired from the three services of Customs, Immigration & Prisons before the creation of CIPPO were later transferred from the OHCSF to CIPPO in 2004 and they are called Pre 91 pensioners.

    “CIPPO was merged with the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) in August 2013, and its responsibilities are now being handled by Customs, Immigration & Prisons Pensions Department (CIPPD).

    “CIPPD is responsible for the pension administration of the three para-military services – Customs, Immigrations and Prisons. The main objective of the department is to manage pension funds and ensure the timely payment of pensioner’s entitlement, stress – less dispensation of pension services to retirees from the paramilitary services and maintain fairness and integrity in the dispensation of pension related matters.

    “The department is headed by a director and divided into two main divisions namely,  Pension Accounts and Pension Administration. The Admin division is responsible for all administrative matters, pension complaints and pension records management; while accounts division is responsible for the department’s finances and pension payments. The department has an internal auditor who is tasked with the responsibility of checking all its operations and payments”.

    She explained that there are different categories of pensioners under the department.

    “The categories are Pre 1991, Ex Biafra Pardonees, S5 NOK and 56 NOK.. The Pre 1991 are pensioners that retired before the creation of the erstwhile CIPPO.  Some retired voluntarily on attaining 60 years of age or after 35 years of service. Post 1991 are pensioners that retired statutorily, voluntarily, involuntarily or compulsorily retired/downsized from 1991 to June 2007 who fall under PTADs mandate.

    “Ex Biafra Pardonees are the para-military officers who joined the Biafran Army during the civil war but were pardoned and granted amnesty by President Olusegun  Obasanjo in May 2000;S5 NOK are the NOK of officers who died a natural death.

    Speaking further she said:‘’There are two categories – for death while in service, the registered NOKs will be paid the gratuity and five years dependable benefit. However, if the death occurred after retirement, the registered NOKs will be paid the balance of the unpaid pension totaling five years post retirement; and S6 NOK are the NOK of officers who died in the course of duty while in active service. Here, the widow and up to six children up to the age of 18 will be entitled to monthly pensions and once they attain the age of 18 years the pension payment stops.’’.

  • Court initiates contempt proceedings against Immigration boss for flouting order

    Contempt proceedings have been initiated against the Comptroller-General (CG) of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede before the National Industrial Court in Abuja for allegedly disobeying an order of the court.

    The court had, on July 19 this year, ordered the CG of the NIS and two others not to harass or intimidate an aggrieved Immigration official, Daniel Makolo (who sued him and others), and restrained them from carrying out any promotion exercise pending the determination of the suit by Makolo.

    In a Form 29 issued by the court’s Registrar on September 22, Babandede and the Director/Secretary of the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prison Board (CDFIPB), Sunday Ogwu have been requested to show cause why an order of committal should not be made against them for violating the court’s order.

    Babandede and Ogwu are also, by the Form 49, “required to attend the court on the first mentioned day to show cause why an order for your committal to prison for contempt of this honourable court should not be made.

    In a support affidavit filed with the Form 49, Makolo stated that, despite the order of July 19, restraining Babandede and two others (named as defendants in his suit) from harassing him, the NIS boss caused a query to be issued to him for allegedly initiating the court action.

    Makolo also stated that despite the order and the pendency of his suit, the NIS boss allegedly instructed that he vacate his official quarters, failing which he should be evicted. He added that the NIS and CDFIPB have also flouted the court’s order by proceeding to conduct the promotion exercise.

    Makolo had sued the NIS, CDFIPB and the Comptroller-General of the NIS in the suit marked: NICN/ABJ/208/2-17, alleging that the defendants had victimised him and worked to ensure his career stagnation by excluding him from promotion exercises following his disagreement with the NIS leadership over his insistence that things be done lawfully.

    The plaintiff is among others, claiming N50million in damages; an order compelling the defendants to accord him his deserved rank of Deputy Comptroller of NIS, which should take effect from 2012.

    Makolo stated, in a supporting affidavit, that he joined the NIS in 1987 as a senior officer on grade level 07 and has put in about 30 years in service. He said he has served diligently and has never been issued a query, but has only been promoted four times due to the manipulation of the process by some entrenched interests.

    He said: “My performances earned me recommendations, the fruits of which I was never allowed to enjoy due to blackmail and malicious treatment meted out to me by unscrupulous elements and their protégés at the helms of affair in the defendant organisations, with fraudulent intentions.

    “Promotion is manipulated against me at an average of six years as against three years stipulated in the extant rules and regulations contained in the terms and condition of service entered into by the parties.

  • Immigration receives 50,000 passport booklets

    Immigration receives 50,000 passport booklets

    • Clearance of backlog begins 
    • Netherlands trains 20 senior officers

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has received a consignment of 50,000 passport booklets to address backlog estimated at 33,000 nationwide.

    Investigation revealed the passports were brought from Malaysia to the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja last week.

    Findings also indicated the Comptroller-General (CG) of NIS, Mohammed Babandede, has deployed a taskforce to Lagos to clear the backlog of passports in the state.

    This followed reports that thousands of Nigerians who applied for regular passports in the state were unable to access them after paying the mandatory fees for the documents.

    But a highly-placed source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent the special team would be deployed in Festac, Alausa and Ikoyi to clear the backlog of applications.

    It was gathered that the team is in Lagos from Abuja with adequate number of passports to satisfy demands and put touts operating in the passport offices out of business.

    The task force is also expected to resolve complaints from members of the public and recommend immigration personnel found wanting in the discharge of their duties for sanction.

    It was gathered the deployment of the team was informed by reports that some unscrupulous NIS officers and touts were creating artificial scarcity of passports in Lagos state.

    This, it was learnt, informed the removal of the officer in-charge of the Festac passport office about two weeks ago.

    However, the federal government has taken further steps to enhance security measures and efficiency in the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS).

    Twenty senior officers of the NIS have received specialised training on security, reception and treatment of visitors within and outside the country.

    The officers trained by officials from the Netherlands cut across the ranks of Chief Superintendent of Immigration (CSI) to Assistant Comptroller of Immigration (ACI).

    The officers are expected to replicate the training at zonal and command levels before proceeding to Netherlands for further training.

    Speaking with journalists at the NIS headquarters in Abuja, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Sunday James, said the programme was geared towards attitudinal change.

  • Reps’ panel chairman, immigration chief, experts warn youths against irregular migration

    Youths have been warned against embarking on irregular migration abroad, especially to Europe.

    This warning was handed down at the launch of the Migration Enlightenment Project Nigeria (MEPN) yesterday at the Centre for Management Development, Lagos.

    The event, which was organised by African German Information Centre (AGiC) and African Courier, was attended by Chairman, Committee on the Diaspora, House of Representatives Rita Orji, Director of AGiC Kenneth Gbandi and Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Europe and Publisher of African Courier Femi Awoniyi.

    Others are Deputy Comptroller of Immigration Mrs. Sadat Hassan and Prince Akinwale Ojomo of the African Diaspora Institute.

    Highlighting the ugly side of irregular migration, Orji said irregular immigrants aside the fact that thousands of Nigerians drown in the Mediterranean, they also face the risks of having their body organs harvested by traffickers.

    She also said some parents sell their lands and properties to send their children abroad illegally.

    As it stands, Germany has 32, 000 Nigerians seeking asylum and there are more than 30, 000 Nigerians looking for jobs in Dubai, according to Orji.

    The lawmakers warned that European countries are going through harsh times, advising the youth that they can achieved their dreams in Nigeria.

    Mrs. Hassan, who headed the Nigerian Immigration Desk in Berlin, Germany for five years and six months, highlighted the sad predicament of Nigerians in the country.

    “A lot of Nigerians are there suffering,” she pointed out to the audience, which comprised mainly youths.

    And in his presentation, Awoniyi said with MEPN’s campaign of ‘Look before you leave,’ his organisation hopes to “educate would-be migrants in Nigeria about the realities of the journey to Europe”.

  • Immigration chief arrested for ‘fraud’

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has arrested one of its assistant comptrollers, Mr. Luka Likita Mutum, for alleged fraud.

    Mutum was nabbed for allegedly defrauding people, including lecturers and relations in Jos, Plateau State capital.

     A statement yesterday in Abuja by Immigration spokesman Sunday James said: “The attention of Comptroller-General of NIS, Muhammad Babandede, has been drawn to activities of fraudsters, who extort money from the public under the guise of securing employment for them in NIS.

     “After statements alerting the public to the need to be wary of such dubious individuals, it is unfortunate innocent citizens are still falling prey. The public should desist from offering money to people for recruitment.

    “Immigration has started arresting these dubious elements, who unfortunately include an Assistant Comptroller of Immigration (ACI), Mr. Luka Likita Mutum, who defrauded Nigerians, including lecturers and relations in Jos. He is facing disciplinary measures.

     “The public is advised to report any case relating to extortion for recruitment to: nis.servicom@nigeriaimmigration.gov.ng or call +234(0)7080607900.”

  • Court stops planned promotion by Nigerian Immigration Service

    Court stops planned promotion by Nigerian Immigration Service

    The National Industrial Court in Abuja has ordered the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPSB) and the NIS from proceeding with their planned promotion exercise for senior officials of the Immigration Service.

    Justice M. N. Esowe of Court 3 of the National Industrial Court said, in an ex-parte ruling yesterday, that the affected agencies and officers are to put off the promotion exercise pending the determination of a pending motion on notice filed along with a substantive suit by an aggrieved NIS official, Daniel Makolo.

    The judge gave the ruling after listening to argument by Makolo’s lawyer; I. M. Ebikwo argued the ex-parte application filed along with the suit marked: NICN/BAJ/208/2017.

    Justice Esowa noted, in the ruling, that “the applicant was once accused of offence from which he was cleared. See letter of notification of clearance by the 2nddefendant dated 2nd March, 2017. In the 3rd July 2017 promotion examination for senior officers of the defendants, Compro. 08 – 14, applicant was not invited for verification/accreditation.

    “Even though the promotion candidate is not as of right, in the interest of justice, all workers should be given the opportunity of attending the examination.  The claimant/applicant was singularly omitted from this opportunity, which smacks of malice.

    “Whereby the court hereby makes this order restraining the defendants, their agents, privies, cronies or representatives, in any form or guise from harassing or intimidating the claimant/applicant and from carrying out any promotion exercise pending the hearing and determination of this motion on notice already filed, and thus maintaining the status quo ante,” the judge said.

    Justice Esowe adjourned to August 2, 2017 for the hearing of Makolo’s motion on notice for interlocutory injunctions against the defendants – the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPSB) and the NIS.

    Makolo stated, in a supporting affidavit, that he joined the NIS in 1987 as a senior officer on grade level 07 and has put in about 30 years in service. He said he has served diligently and has never been issued a query, but has only been promoted four times due to the manipulation of the process by some entrenched interests.

    He said: “My performances earned me recommendations, the fruits of which I was never allowed to enjoy due to blackmail and malicious treatment meted out to me by unscrupulous elements and their protégés at the helms of affair in the defendant organisations, with fraudulent intentions.

    “Promotion is manipulated against me at an average of six years as against three years stipulated in the extant rules and regulations contained in the terms and condition of service entered into by the parties.

    “My unwarranted and unjustified denial of promotions was actuated by blackmail and malice by the 1st defendant’s (NIS’) officers and same has continued till date as a result of which I have been kept in limbo, stagnated on the Chief Superintendent of Immigration (CSI) rank for about a decade now despite being a lawyer, a holder of NCE, LLB, BL, LLM degrees,” Makolo said.

    By August 2, the court is also expected to open hearing in the substantive suit, in which Makolo is among others, claiming N50million in damages, an order compelling the defendant to accord him his deserved rank of Deputy Comptroller of NIS and to take effect from 2012.

  • Massive recruitment underway at Immigration, others

    Federal Fire Service, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) would embark on massive recruitment exercise, it has been disclosed.

    This is as the House of Representatives promised to ensure that no section of the Nigerian society is denied its due in the planned exercise.

    The Director/Secretary of the Civil Defense, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPB), Sunday Dan Ogu, who appeared before House Committee on Legislative Compliance at the weekend after being threatened with arrest, said the planned recruitment into the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) was a continuation of the 2014 exercise that led to the death of many applicants.

    Chairman of the Committee, Abiodun Olasupo (APC, Oyo) said the House was only being proactive in it duty by seeking to know the state of preparedness for the exercise.

    “We are naturally concerned about the last unfortunate incidence, so we need to know how prepared the Service is for this exercise.

    “As representatives of our people, we need to let them know and give them the assurances that all hands are on deck for a hitch-free exercise,” he said.

    Responding, Ogu said the Board was fully prepared taking into consideration factors that led to the unfortunate of the last exercise.

    He said the forthcoming exercise was in continuation of the last one where 888 applicants were absolved into the NIS.

    He said the balance of 1,110 vacancies was what the Board is hoping to fill.

    He also disclosed that the overwhelming number of applicants, which was a reflection of the high rate of unemployment in the country, is being addressed by the federal government with a planned massive recruitment into the other services under the Board.

  • Hajj: Ilorin airport maps out strategy to checkmate drug traffickers

    Hajj: Ilorin airport maps out strategy to checkmate drug traffickers

    The management of llorin International Airport on Tuesday said it had mapped out strategy to detect suspected drug traffickers that would travel to Saudi Arabia for the 2017 Hajj.

    Alhaji Ibrahim AbdulAzeez, the Airport Manager, made this known in llorin in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    He said that the management of the airport had put necessary machinery in place to detect and stop any intending pilgrims indulging in drug trafficking or any negative tendencies capable of giving the country bad image.

    AbdulAzeeez said that the airport had inaugurated 2017 Hajj Committee, which would ensure perfect arrangement for the airlifting and return of all the intending pilgrims.

    He however warned intending pilgrims from the llorin zone with criminal intention to do a rethink by not travelling to the holy land through llorin International Airport.

    He said that members of the committee  were drawn from Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigeria Police, Customs, Immigration and Civil Defence.

    Others members are the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Port Health, NAFDAC, and some the airliners.

    It will be recalled that three pilgrims, who traveled through the airport for the 2016 Hajj were arrested in Saudi Arabia over alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

  • Immigration redeploys 518 personnel from airports

    Immigration redeploys 518 personnel from airports

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has redeployed 518 officers from five international airports and state commands in its bid to enhance the ease of doing business in the country.

    Its NIS spokesperson, Sunday James, spoke in a statement yesterday in Abuja.

    He said the Comptroller-General of the NIS, Muhammad Babandede, ordered the massive redeployment as part of plans to instil professionalism and enhance service delivery to the public.

    Babandede said the airports involved are the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, Port Harcourt International Airport; and Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu.