THE NIS SAGA : Are the youths the element or victim of change?

The dispersal of 2000 officers that were recently recruited into the Nigerian Immigration service has shown to the world what Nigerian politics is about, promise everything during campaign and deliver nothing when sworn into office. No wonder Ronald Reagan described government as a baby-a long alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other. There were many campaign promises made to the Nigerian youths: employment, empowerment and integration into the Nigerian economy.


Professor Wole Soyinka once said that “The Nigerian youth is dead at birth”. This is true as government cannot provide jobs but they can afford to get as many youths as possible for political thuggery and other electioneering purposes. Both the university degrees and the professional certificates are not enough to secure  a job, recruitment into government jobs has been by slots, if you are not connected, you can not be hired. This is why we currently have many mediocres working in government parastatals. Instead of  correcting these anomalies, the Federal Government is listening to the petitions of people condemning the  recruitment into Nigeria Immigration service.
To be candid, this is the first recruitment that is free, fair, credible and open to all Nigerians. It followed all due processes. The recruitment was advertised, qualified candidates were shortlisted. Computer based aptitude was conducted by Dragnet under the supervision of security operatives from Nigeria Prison Service, Nigeria Fire Service and Nigeria Civil Defence Corps.
The candidates that passed the test went for further screening (physical examination, document verification and oral interview) at the commands in their state origin.
The successful candidates were selected based on their total scores from the Computer-Based Aptitude Test, physical examination, document verification and oral interview, in a way that satisfied provisions of Federal Character. They were documented, given service numbers, the ASIs were given posting letter and others appointment letters. Can a recruitment process be more transparent than this?  I don't think so.

These 2000 patriots went through three months of induction training. They were subjected to military drills with arms  training. They were not provided with accommodation, transport allowances and feeding allowances during this process. Most of them had to take loans, most had to quit their present jobs for this offer, what more sacrifice are they expected to make? Are they expected to go back to their previous lives as civilians with the knowledge and secrets they possess? What does the government want these youths to become especially in this period of global security challenges and terrorism? Story for the gods or food for thought?!