NIS to re-screen 2,000 dismissed ‘illegal recruits’

The Nigeria Immigration Service on Monday said it had concluded plans to re-screen the 2,000 recruits that were dismissed following their irregular letters of appointment in February 2015.

The Comptroller-General of the Service, Muhammad Babandede, said this in a statement signed by Ekpedeme King, the NIS spokesperson, in Abuja.

Babandede said the Federal Government had approved the review of the lingering case and the re-screening of those affected.

He said the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration, and Prisons Services Board had on August 11 approved some guidelines for the screening of the applicants.

King said in the statement: “The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) wishes to inform the 2000 applicants for employment into the Service who were irregularly issued letters of employment in February 2015 that the Federal Government has approved the review of the case.

“Following an emergency meeting of the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration, and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPB) on Aug.11, 2016, guidelines were issued for the screening of the applicants.”

The Immigration spokesperson said part of the guidelines were security clearance, drug test, certificate verification and Implementation of CDFIPB policy on “Age on Rank”.

The NIS boss said applicants whose names were listed on the NIS website, www.immigration.gov.ng, should report to the NIS Headquarters, Abuja with their credentials and two passport photographs.

King said the screening would be conducted in batches based on rank and state of origin from August 29 to September 4 in Abuja.

He, however, stressed the exercise was not a call for fresh recruitment and, therefore, urged the general public not to forward any application for recruitment into the NIS.

The 2,000 dismissed recruits had been protesting at the National Assembly and the Ministry of Interior since 2015 for their reinstatement.

It will be recalled that they were employed by a Presidential Committee set up by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 following the tragedy that marred the March 2014 recruitment exercise where many candidates died and others sustained injuries.