It's almost a year since #NigeriaImmigration2000 were
ousted out of service. Within this period, the service have had three
Comptroller Generals. The first, CGIS David Parradang was suspended
indefinitely, giving room for the dispersal of #NigeriaImmigration2000.
He was replaced by CGIS Martin Abeshi.
Mr. Kure Martin Abeshi was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on August 27, 2015 as the Comptroller-General of Immigration. Although he was not the Knight in shinning armour we were expecting, at least he was sincere to acknowledge the RIGOROUS & TRANSPARENT process that birthed the #NigeriaImmigration2000. He promised to ratify our appointment, but ended up soiled in the job racketeering scandal that plagued the service by the end of 2015. This instigated the first protest at Ministry of Interior. After suffering trials by the hands of the Nigerian media, he voluntarily retired from the service (so they said, but you know there was more to it). Muhammed Babandede MFR was then appointed the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR. The appointment took effect from 15th May, 2016.
Did you just assume he is "the Pharaoh who pretended not to know Joseph" I was referring to in the previous chapter? Well, I am only responsible for what I post and not for how you understand it
Following the last protest to MOI and anticipated supplementary budget, we embarked on another protest to MOI. The protest was to serve as a catalyst and speed up things, little did we know a surprise was in store for us. As soon as protest commenced and the police could not forcefully disperse the protesting recruits, MOI resorted to calling in the CALVARY (I miss Agent Mae of Agents of Shield). MOI had gotten their game right this time, they sent CGIS Babandede. They knew too well that as regimental recruits, we won't rebel against our Boss-to-be. The mind game worked; The protesting recruits were intimidated. He said and I quote "I will not recruit union leaders, drug addicts..... I would recruit only those with good legs.... there is no vacancy for now... let your reps meet with me tomorrow at the SHQ."
Seriously? Whatever he meant by good legs has eluded my understanding. But one statement stood out; "no vacancy". What the hell happened to 4556 vacancies declared during the botched 2014 recruitment exercise? There hasn't been any recruitment since then. If you say replacement, you don't carry out replacement for 4556 vacancies. That amount requires advertisement according Public Service Rules. We opted for dialogue as usual; as peace loving Nigerian youths. The new Sheriff promised heaven and earth towards our recruitment. Controversially, he granted a press release that stated otherwise. It read:
" THE Federal Government has set stringent conditions for
absorbing the 2,000 “dispersed” Nigeria Immigration Service recruits
allegedly done illegally by the last administration of President
Goodluck Jonathan.
The applicants, who were recruited in February 2015, and subsequently sacked by the Federal Government while undergoing training had stormed the Ministry of Interior recently to protest their sacking and demanded their reinstatement into the NIS.
But the Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Mr Mohammed Babadende, who spoke at an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja, on Wednesday, said even though the recruitment was done illegally, he was committed to finding solution to the plight of the affected young Nigerians.
He disclosed that he had met with the representatives of the affected NIS recruits based on the approval of the Minister of Interior, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazzau, and gave them some conditions for normalising their appointments.
Babadende noted that because of compassion for them as innocent people, “I gave them conditions under which their appointment could be normalised.”
The conditions he gave them were, first, their appointment could be normalised subject to vacancies; second, there has to be a budget for them and third, is the question of qualification as new conditions have been put in place by the government for recruitment into the Service.
He said: “I told them that their certificate must be verified; they must pass through security clearance, drug test and you can’t be 35 years and say you want to join the Service. They agreed and I’m going to meet with them on Friday again."
The applicants, who were recruited in February 2015, and subsequently sacked by the Federal Government while undergoing training had stormed the Ministry of Interior recently to protest their sacking and demanded their reinstatement into the NIS.
But the Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Mr Mohammed Babadende, who spoke at an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja, on Wednesday, said even though the recruitment was done illegally, he was committed to finding solution to the plight of the affected young Nigerians.
He disclosed that he had met with the representatives of the affected NIS recruits based on the approval of the Minister of Interior, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazzau, and gave them some conditions for normalising their appointments.
Babadende noted that because of compassion for them as innocent people, “I gave them conditions under which their appointment could be normalised.”
The conditions he gave them were, first, their appointment could be normalised subject to vacancies; second, there has to be a budget for them and third, is the question of qualification as new conditions have been put in place by the government for recruitment into the Service.
He said: “I told them that their certificate must be verified; they must pass through security clearance, drug test and you can’t be 35 years and say you want to join the Service. They agreed and I’m going to meet with them on Friday again."
These conditions are stringent indeed. This was just another approach to streamline us!!!!
During the scheduled meeting of 15/07/2016 (One which our
new Sheriff was absent) presided over by the ACG Appointments &
Promotions, the attention of the ACG was drawn to the press statement of
Wed. 13th July '16 by the CGIS harping largely on the word "vacancies".
His explanations portends that it could just amount to mere semantics
as the actual context in which it is used imply financial provisions for
reinstatement & other issues ensuing therefrom. Another meeting
date was to be communicated.
These new turnout of events raised questions demanding serious answers.
*Why were the #NigeriaImmigration2000 cunningly and secretly schemed out of the service if the authorities were certain or had proof of illegality in the recruitment?
*Why did the authorities hid under "inadequate provision of funds for salaries" to secretly disperse them?
*Why haven't the authorities reinstated them after calls from several quarters including a resolution from the House of Representatives?
*The same Presidential Committee recruited the Stampede Victims and #NigeriaImmigration2000. Why are they in training school and we are left to rot at home?
*Why the sudden change of events and the emphasis on "no vacancy"?
What happened to the 4556 vacancies declared prior to the recruitment of #NigeriaImmigration2000?
*Why would the government send arms-trained personnel back into the streets? Do you wonder what would happen if even one of them turn rogue with the training they have received?
* If there were irregularities, is it the fault of the recruits? Why did nobody fault the exercise as of that time. Why were they employed, trained and suspended? Is it to give room to the illegal hiring of children of cronies that has bedevilled this administration? Is it because they were employed during former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan's tenure?
* It's important to note that it was not only immigration trainees that were suspended but ironically it's only immigration trainees that have not been recalled. Why?
*Were those in authority scared of the capacity we were bringing into the service and decided to shove us aside and employ mediocres they can manipulate?
*Why were the #NigeriaImmigration2000 cunningly and secretly schemed out of the service if the authorities were certain or had proof of illegality in the recruitment?
*Why did the authorities hid under "inadequate provision of funds for salaries" to secretly disperse them?
*Why haven't the authorities reinstated them after calls from several quarters including a resolution from the House of Representatives?
*The same Presidential Committee recruited the Stampede Victims and #NigeriaImmigration2000. Why are they in training school and we are left to rot at home?
*Why the sudden change of events and the emphasis on "no vacancy"?
What happened to the 4556 vacancies declared prior to the recruitment of #NigeriaImmigration2000?
*Why would the government send arms-trained personnel back into the streets? Do you wonder what would happen if even one of them turn rogue with the training they have received?
* If there were irregularities, is it the fault of the recruits? Why did nobody fault the exercise as of that time. Why were they employed, trained and suspended? Is it to give room to the illegal hiring of children of cronies that has bedevilled this administration? Is it because they were employed during former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan's tenure?
* It's important to note that it was not only immigration trainees that were suspended but ironically it's only immigration trainees that have not been recalled. Why?
*Were those in authority scared of the capacity we were bringing into the service and decided to shove us aside and employ mediocres they can manipulate?
To curb terrorism we have to curb the inflow of undesirable
elements into our society and here we have 2000 trained recruits being
wasted on political vendetta. It is time in Nigeria when we need to say
#EnoughIsEnough. Let's use #NigeriaImmigration2000 to change the story
of Nigeria for the better.
What those in authority have always banked upon is the
inability of the average Nigerian to stay on an issue. They know sooner
than later Nigerians would move on from an issue. Unfortunately for
them, the #NigeriaImmigration2000 have vowed to remain focus and see
that JUSTICE is served. We would not deter!
Join the conversation on twitter using the hashtag #NigeriaImmigration2000 and follow the story on http://nigimmigration2000.
Make a decision today; STAND WITH US AND SAY NO TO NEPOTISM AND GODFATHERISM!
Make a decision today; STAND WITH US AND SAY NO TO NEPOTISM AND GODFATHERISM!
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