Why Buhari MUST cancel the ongoing recruitment in the Nigeria Immigration Service – Obono-Obla

.It is an incontrovertible fact that on the 29th May, 2015, the President-Elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari will be inaugurated as the 5th Elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the tenure of President Good luck Jonathan shall lapse by virtue of the constitutional effluxion of time.

Naturally and traditionally the administration of President Good luck Jonathan should be winding down by now preparing its handing over notes, not embarking on new appointments and recruitments.

Curiously and surprisingly the administration of President Jonathan has vigorously and aggressively embarked on an avalanche of appointments and signing of new contracts and recruitments. This is unfathomable and unacceptable.

One of such hurriedly arranged recruitment is the one going on in the Nigeria Immigration Service.

The on-going recruitment in the Nigeria Immigration Service taking place in the twilight of the present regime is an entire charade and fraught with improprieties, abuses, corruption and impunity.

The recruitment in the Nigeria Immigration Service is being supervised and undertaken by a so-called Presidential Committee to Assist on Immigration Recruitment with the following ‘Terms of Reference’ thus:-

‘The terms of reference of the said Presidential Committee to Assist on Immigration Recruitment include thus:

i. Liaising with the Civil Defence, Fire Service, Immigration and Prisons Board to confirm the actual number of personnel to be recruited for the Nigeria Immigration Service;

ii. Assisting the Civil Defence, Fire Service, Immigration and Prisons Board by re-advertising the recruitment into Nigeria Immigration Service with a view to starting the recruitment process afresh;

iii. Assisting the Civil Defence, Fire Service, Immigration and Prisons Board by processing the applications, short listing potential candidates and conducting the necessary interviews for the purpose of the recruitment exercise;

iv. Assisting the Civil Defence, Fire Service, Immigration and Prisons Board by following all relevant laws, Public Service Rules and Guidelines to determine successful applicants and announce the appointment into Nigeria Immigration Service;

v. To ensure that three family members of each decreased applicant from the aborted exercise at least one of whom should be a female, are given immediate and automatic employment in the Nigeria Immigration Service; and

vi. To ensure that all those injured during the aborted exercise are given immediate and automatic employment in the Nigeria Immigration Service.’

The composition of the Presidential Committee to assist on Immigration Recruitment includes:

i. Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission-Chairman
ii. Comptroller General , Nigeria Immigration Service-Member
iii. Representative of the Head of Service-Member
iv. Representatives of the Commandant-General, NSCDC-Member.
v. Representatives of the Controller-General, Prisons Service-Member
vi. Representatives of the Corp Marshall, FRSC – Member
vii. Representatives of the Director-General, DSS – Member
viii. Permanent Secretary, Special Duties (OSCF) – Member

The Committee was set up by President Jonathan on the 26th March, 2014, in the wake of the scandal and furore when a purported recruitment exercise embarked upon by the Nigeria Immigration Service ended tragically and disastrously leaving scores of applicants dead and hundreds injured in stampedes that occurred in various Centres across the Country.

However, the constitution of the Presidential Committee to assist in the recruitment in the Nigeria Immigration Service is illegal in view of the fact that responsibilities for the recruitment, discipline and dismissal of the Nigeria Immigration Services lies exclusively with the Board of the Civil Defence, Fire Service, Immigration and Prisons.

It is clear that by the true interpretation and construction of Sections 3 & 4 of the Immigration, Civil Defence, Fire Service, Immigration and Prisons Board Act, 2010, only the Board is vested with the power to recruit, discipline and dismiss in the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps, Federal Fire Service and Nigeria Prisons Service.

Early this morning, I got a distress note on my face book private mail box from one of my young friends who took part in current recruitment exercise undertaken by the Presidential Committee which he endlessly lamented the abuse, impunity and corruption that has bedevilled the present recruitment exercise that has made him become despondent and distraught on how low the Country has sunk.

My friend, graphically but lamentably and piteously wrote thus:

“Good morning sir, I believe you can hear my cry. I want to draw your attention to the on-going recruitment exercise in the Nigeria Immigration Service. The computer based aptitude test was conducted which some of us passed and were short listed for physical examination, documentation and certificate verification, all these requirements some of us have no problem with. To my greatest surprise, I was not given provisional appointment, while those that did not participate in the recruitment aptitude test were given provisional notifications. I wish you should help me, because this is my only hope for now. My name is —–
Thank you”

It is gross irresponsibility and blatant corruption that is being perpetrated under the guise of a recruitment exercise which the incoming regime must review or possibly cancel in the interest of justice. I am aware of the fact that a former Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, Ado Jaafaru, from Kano State who is greatly revolted by the blatant and naked usurping of the power of the Board of the Civil Defence, Fire Service, Immigration and Prisons has challenged the legality of the Presidential Committee to assist on Immigration Recruitment in the Federal High Court, Abuja; and one would have expected the powers that be would respect the Court and await the outcome of the case since it is sub judice.

OKOI OBONO-OBLA.