Posted by By UBONG UKPONG, Abuja on
Interior minister, Major General Godwin Abbe (rtd), has warned officers and men of the Immigration Service to eschew corruption and all forms of indiscipline, vowing not to protect any officer, irrespective of rank, discovered to be involved in corrupt and unwholesome practices.
Interior minister, Major General Godwin Abbe (rtd), has warned officers and men of the Immigration Service to eschew corruption and all forms of indiscipline, vowing not to protect any officer, irrespective of rank, discovered to be involved in corrupt and unwholesome practices.
The minister vowed while declaring open the Comptroller General of Immigration's annual training conference on Friday in Abuja.
General Abbe, who lauded the present reforms and achievements in the service, averring that government was absolutely pleased, said he understood that some bad eggs were still around in the service, who were not pleased with the new order and modes of operation.
" I have watched with kin interest the activities of the Nigeria Immigration Service since I came to the ministry as the minister of Interior and pleased to inform you that I am encouraged with the tempo of progress geared towards giving the service a new sense of direction.
"May I use this forum to warn officers and men of the Service to desist from all acts of indiscipline and corruption as this administration detests such misconduct. Any officer found indulging in acts of indiscipline and corruption will be decisively dealt with", the minister vowed.
He charged the officers and men to, in discharging their duties, be humane and polite to both Nigerians and foreigners, but without compromising national security.
Earlier in his address, the Comptroller General of Immigration (CGI), Joseph Chukwura Udeh, had said that there were no reasons for any officer to be corrupt but for the fact that in every organization, some individuals often prefer to be the bad eggs.
"We have consistently embarked on regular payment of salaries before the end of the month arising from the computerization of our payroll which makes payment very easier. Government's recent approval of the consolidated salary structure has been implemented with all arrears paid in December, 2007", the CGI averred.
Udeh further disclosed that in the event of sudden death while on active service, the Service had an insurance benefit scheme for its officers and men. In view of this, cheques worth several millions of naira were delivered to some next of kin of deceased officers and men during the conference.