Posted by DANIEL IDONOR, Abuja on
INTERNAL Affairs Minister, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu yesterday lamented the widespread corruption in the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) threatening that any officer caught will be sacked.
INTERNAL Affairs Minister, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu yesterday lamented the widespread corruption in the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) threatening that any officer caught will be sacked.
Confirming that corruption cuts across the rank and file of the service, he said the recent appointment of officers and retirement of many others should be regarded as the first phase of the service's restructuring exercise.
He urged the NIS leadership to wipe out corrupt practices from its activities so as to give the nation a favourable international image.
Dr. Ayu stated all these in Abuja while decorating the newly-appointed Comptroller-General of NIS, Mr. Joseph Udeh and his Deputy (DCG) in charge of Operations, Mrs. Rose Uzoma.
Also decorated yesterday were Dr. Brown Babajide who will now oversee the Directorate of Investigation, Inspectorate and Enforcement and Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu who is now the head of Administration, Finance and Technical Services.
Dr. Ayu said the new NIS leadership must do everything possible to sanitise and stop corruption without delay within the ranks and file of the service, so as to give it a new image.
Expressing confidence in the ability of the new appointees to deliver, the minister advised them to urgently make the business of corruption unattractive to the employed.
He described the service as the first point of call by foreigners to Nigeria, insisting that officers have a great role to play by ensuring that "our visitors do not have a negative perspective of the country."
He said the appointment of the officers and the retirement of many others was the first phase of the restructuring exercise, warning that the recommendation of the committee earlier set up would be implemented to the letter.
He said that their appointment was based on merit through the recommendation of the committee, adding that they are the best going by their track records.
According to him, "any officer who does not want to follow the laid down rules and regulations would be shown the way out."
"No room for those extorting money from foreigners. We would continue to monitor the service and if you are found wanting, you will be replaced," the minister further said.