The National Association of Retired Immigration Officers in Nigeria has held its maiden Annual conference in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Addressing the conference, the Chairman of the Association, Charles Okafor, said the conference was born out of the retired officers’ desire to contribute towards national development, border management and possible ways of ensuring more improvement in the mandate and activities of the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS
The Chairman also rolled out other objectives of the Association, including primarily to cater for the welfare of her members, enhance the unity and cooperation among them, support each other in times of need, to affiliate and cooperate with similar Organisations locally and internationally in pursuit of their common goals, and to act as an advisory body to the Leadership of the Nigeria Immigration Service on matters relating to Migration Management and national security.
“The theme of the AGM is: “Strengthening Institutional Capacity and Autonomy amidst Operational Challenges: Repositioning the Nigeria Immigration Service for Border Security, Revenue Generation, Investment Promotion and Sustainable National Development “. he said.
READ ALSO: Nigeria Immigration Clarifies Passport Centralisation Reform
He noted that a cursory look at the theme reveals that the Immigration Service is at the core of the existence and development of any nation, and that Nigeria Immigration Officers play a role in nation building.
“It is on record that the Nigeria Immigration Service has lost a good number of officers in the course of duties protecting this country. It is also known that these same Officers are the least spoken about or cared for. While we hear about the Military and other Security Agencies’ packages and welfare, Immigration Officers are so relegated and neglected as if the NIS is not one of the security agencies in Nigeria”, he said.
He pointed out that the pattern has become a sore spot in the lives of those who sacrificed their young and useful age in the service of the nation through the Nigeria Immigration Service.
“We think the reason for this neglect is that the public has been made to believe that the core mandate of NIS is passport issuance and Administration. I make bold to say today that is not true; the core duty of the Nigeria Immigration Service is Migration Management and Border Security in times of peace, as it is the practice in countries like the United States of America, Spain and Canada”. Okafor stated.
He emphasised that the Immigration Service all over the world plays very important roles in homeland security and protection, nothing that the miscarriage and disinformation have resulted in several Organisations creating Border Security units in their operational modules.
“Some people have even called for the establishment of Border Guards, but no questions are asked as to how much NIS is funded. Why is NIS not optimally effective and efficient? What is the welfare of NIS Officers? These are germane issues to National Border Security and not the Proliferation of Agencies,” the President informed.
The Association, however, pleaded with the Authorities to take the plight of NIS seriously in considering the Nation’s security architecture, stating that Members of NARIO are disheartened when they hear and see fellow retired Security Personnel treated like eggs and fragile items for the service rendered to the Nigerian Nation without any mention of their welfare
“We request that our conditions of retirement be revisited by NIS, the Board and the Federal Ministry of Interior, with the generous revenue accruing to the government through the services rendered by Nigeria Immigration Service. What is good for the goose is also good for the gander, “He emphasised.
The conference attracted retired Immigration officers from in and around the country.
