Taking into consideration the recruitment that birthed #NigeriaImmigration2000, it was not surprising to find out that the POWERS THAT BE at the Ministry of Interior would stop at nothing until these young and vibrant recruits are schemed out of the service. But someone would constitute a stumbling block to this scheme; CGIS David Shikfu Parradang.
CGIS Parradang's position on #NigeriaImmigration2000 was conveyed to MOI's Perm Sec A. A. Magaji on 18/08/2015 in a memo IMM/S/1823/1/189. We were then unlawfully dispersed via a circular NIS/S/1828/1/193 dated 20/08/2015 and signed by DCGIS H. Y. Malgwi. The circular signed by Malgwi was for the same CGIS Parradang who had written to #CDFIPB on 18th reiterating his position on the recruitment of the #NigeriaImmigration2000, making it clear that he won't be part of the plot to get rid of them. On 21/08/2015, CGIS Parradang is suspended because of the #NigeriaImmigration2000 and also to cover up the unjust dispersal.
It is pertinent to say that DCGIS H. Y. Malgwi dispersed us on instructions on some powerful cabal. The same cabal responsible for CGIS Parradang's suspension because Malgwi had no bureaucratic powers to disperse #NigeriaImmigration2000 without the consent of his boss CGIS Parradang.
They assumed that with time, the #NigeriaImmigration2000 saga would fade away; unfortunately, they chose to mess with the wrong set of youths.
We paid a courtesy visit to the Service Headquarters and was told we haven't been sacked; just that adequate provisions were not made for our salaries. We went home believing it would be ratified soon.
Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Interior, Abubakar Magaji later made some annoying revelations on 13/10/2015. Magaji described the presentation of employment letters by Jonathan as symbolic just as he stressed that he approved the issuance of the letters of employment by the board even without meeting laid down procedures in order not to embarrass the president. Would he have made these statements if Jonathan was still in power? What gave a civil servant the audacity to flaunt a presidential directive?
Magaji made the disclosure when he appeared before the House of Representatives ad-hoc Committee on Victims of Nigeria Immigration Service stampede. The permanent secretary accused the presidential committee of not involving the Interior ministry as well as unilaterally directing the CDFIPB to issue employment letters. He also stated that the ministry did not have funds to pay the wages of 176 beneficiaries and another 2,000 applicants employed earlier in the year by the NIS as funding for their salaries was not included in the ministry’s 2014 budget.
Obviously dissatisfied by the explanation from the permanent secretary, members of the committee took turns to condemn the failure of the ministry, the NIS and the CDFIPB to have fully settled beneficiaries. The Committee went further to recommend that those involved be deployed with immediate effect by the NIS, having lawfully secured their employment into the Service.
The Committee chairman and House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, had expressed deep annoyance at the flagrant disrespect and disobedience to the order by President of the Federal Republic, who directed that at least three persons each, including a female, from the families of those who lost their lives, as well as all those injured during the exercise be given immediate and automatic employment into the NIS.
However, the Permanent Secretary, PS, who said that he directed the issuance of the employment letters, said he could not implement it because he was suspecting the legality of the Presidential Committee that directed their employment. Consequently, the Committee, which informed him that the President’s directives in the terms of reference given to the Presidential Committee that was headed by Chairman, Civil Service Commission, were very unambiguous and should be obeyed to the later. The Interior Permanent Secretary was therefore advised to go ahead and ensure that all those duly employed by the NIS and the Board of Fire Service, Civil Defence, Prisons and Immigration, are called and deployed, as well as every other beneficiary in this category.
With this new directive probably favoring just the 2014 stampede victims, #NigeriaImmigration2000 embarked on a protest to NASS on 20/10/2015 and 3/11/2015. We also embarked on Twitter Storm, expressing our grievances.
The out come of those protests and twitting was an investigative hearing at House of Representatives on 10/12/2015.
We were given time to air our own side of the story first. After a chronological account of how it went, the representative of the CGIS (ACG in charge of Promotion, discipline and appointments) gave the side of NIS. It was a case of "I concur", all the facts rhymed!!! The committee members just made it clear to the rep of the NIS that we had a common ground and asked why we were dispersed. The ACG eventually pointed fingers at the Board and Ministry. After the whole bulk passing, he emphasized that the decision wasn't theirs and that Parradang (Suspended CGIS) did all he could to prevent our letters of employment from been retrieved which ultimately cost him his job. He also emphasized that the recruitment as conducted by PCLAIR was " RIGOROUS & TRANSPARENT" in all ramifications. He said the "NIS need staff and would not want to do away with us". The HOR made it clear that our EMOLUMENTS from the date of appointment on our APL'S have to be paid in ENTIRETY!!! It was also ascertained that we were actually budgeted for. Yes! We were captured in the budget!!! Another meeting was fixed that would include the NIS, The Board and the chairman of the Presidential committee plus #NigeriaImmigration2000; Unfortunately, the meeting never came to be.
We were not relentless, we continued to PUSH. Another meeting was scheduled for 24/02/2016. The Chairman of the committee on Public petitions Hon Uzoma Abonta (Ukwa East/West) Federal constituency , Abia state, chaired the meeting. There were other honourable members present. The Nigeria Immigration Service was represented by the DCG in Charge of Human Resources Directorate, Mr Henry Malgwi (same person who signed the dispersal letter), he was accompanied by the ACG in charge of Appointments, Promotions and Discipline, Mr Abdullahi. We stated our petition, and the reps were thoroughly briefed on the issue already. Key points to take away from that meeting:
*The Nigeria Immigration Service still wants us but don't have the "power to keep us",
*The order for our dispersal came from the Ministry of Interior,
*Mr David Parradang was " suspended" over our issue,
*We were included in the 2015 budget but not in the 2016 budget,
*The Ministry in a memo said our recruitment was "illegal" but the reps asked it to be "regularized",
*The reps pushed for us to be reinstated and as soon as possible,
*The house categorically said that the NIS would NOT be allowed to CONDUCT A FRESH RECRUITMENT TILL OUR CASE IS SETTLED,
*There would be NO MORE PUBLIC HEARINGS on this issue by the committee, the Committee chairman offered to come over to meet the NIS if need be to quicken the process but the NIS said they would come back sooner,
*The committee chairman recognises that there is some form of " power play" between the MOI, Board and PCLAIR, he has called for a meeting that would involve the suspended CG, Former Perm sec and ALL the key players involved so as to resolve it as soon as possible,
*The issue of APL's for ASI's was discussed and it was put into the consideration as it was said the board ordered it shouldn't be issued earlier but it is been x-rayed
*The Reps instructed the NIS officials to present a budgetary proposal to include us in the 2016 budget! Guess how soon!!!!!!!! Before the close of work on 25th Feb. 2016
(Find attached HOR's Order Paper)
Surprisingly, Budget was passed and we were not included. That led to another protest at Ministry of Interior on 04/04/2016. On these day, link was established with the relevant stakeholders at the MOI with a view to ensuring a free flow of information on the state of affairs and progress of the #NigeriaImmigration2000.
To that effect, a follow up contact was made on Mr. Felix Okonkwo, SA to the PS, MOI to find out the state of affair since our last rally. In his response, he made us understand that the ministry has MET, appraised our petition and have WRITTEN to the CGIS directing him to transmit the BRIEF of NIS with respect to the said subject matter. The NIS according to the SA was given between then & Thurs 21 Apr '16 within which they are expected to submit their brief in lieu.
The appraisal of the briefs will determine the next line of action going forward.
We had another brief interface with the SA to the Minister. that did not last upto 10 minutes. From our discussions, the following deductions can be made:
1.NIS/MOI has given us a clean bill of health.
2.Our reinstatement is tied to budgetary provisions for same which happens to be our major hurdle for now.
3.The process for the drafting of a supplementary budget to include us have already commenced & that should be in NASS in a short while.
4.The MOI is not aversed to recalling us but that can't take place without a budgetary allocation for same, I.e our reinstatement is largely hinged on the endorsement of budget for same.
We continued Praying, Fasting, Twitting and to Dialogue; then came another Pharoah who pretended not to know Joseph.
.........to be continued
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