NigeriaImmigration2000 by Sola Omorilewa: Their sacrifices should
not be in vain
There is no doubt that the wind of
change is presently blowing across
Nigeria in all sectors. This demands
some applause from Nigerians to the
present administration. It has
consumed some but I think "a person
who doesn't carry evil medicine should
not be afraid of the rain". The war on
corruption and impunity is now a daily
occurrence on both print and
electronic media.
Yet,
we should be cognizance of the
multiplying effect of certain decisions,
especially if it concerns security of life
and properties of the general public.
This also brings to mind the recent axe
on the Comptroller General of
Immigration Service, Mr David Shikfu
Parradang CON, over the recruitment
of certain number of candidates for the
job of policing our borders, issuance of
travel documents, registering and
monitoring of ECOWAS nationals,
monitoring both joint ventures and
fully owned foreign companies in
compliance with extant rules and
regulations, waging war against trans-
national organized crime like human
trafficking and child labour. After the
CGIS was suspended on the 21st of
August 2015, the service also issued
out a letter same day to various
formations to disperse the recruited
officers and men who had almost
completed their three months
induction training at the various state
commands across the Federation.
However, from the information I was
able to gather as an investigative
journalist, it will be a great disservice
to this nation if those agile youths are
sent back to the unemployment
market. I think that NIS has not put the
multiplying effect on the economy into
consideration before dispersing these
recruits. Not only this, I do not think
they have put the security of the
nation and their different offices into
consideration before sending those
recruits packing; going by the
experience and information they have
gathered during their three months
induction training. The society must
not toy and undermine these trainees
because lots of secrets and restricted
information are already at their
fingertips. It is not justifiable to just lay
those trainees off considering the
following factors.
The first is their effort and
commitment; You will agree with me
that these recruits have shown lots of
commitment through the process of
their enlisting into the service and
their eventual short listing. Many
traveled from far to attend the
examination at designated ICT centres
from different towns and villages. The
various commands throughout the
country screened their certificates and
also observed them medically. Also,
their journey to various immigration
training schools: ITSK, Kano; NITSOL,
Orlu; and NITSOL, Ahoada when they
were invited for their documentation.
Of course , you will agree with me that
these youths have sacrificed time,
energy and money to do all these. To
have nothing to show for all their
efforts will not only be saddening but
also heartbreaking.
Sequel to the above is the security of
the society and the paramilitary
organization that employed them. You
should be aware that many of these
recruits have been exposed to various
sensitive places in their various
commands of induction. Virtually all of
them have been physically drilled and
have also undergone weapon training.
Many of them will successfully strip,
service and assemble some of the rifles
used by NIS. Where do you want them
to use such knowledge? To become a
saboteur or enlist into terrorist
organizations? An idle hand they say is
the devil’s workshop. To become an
armed robber or a kidnapper?
Furthermore, the negative perspective
at which this administration will be
portrayed is another factor why those
trainees should not be sent back to the
unemployment market. You will agree
with me that if anyone among them
happens to be our brother or sister, we
would not have wished them such an
ill luck. In as much as the present
administration is for the masses and
not for the few rich, it must be guided
against negative perception by the
masses. The present trainees in the NIS
constitute part of the teaming
unemployed youths in our society. In
my opinion, the issue of politics should
not come into play in their
recruitment, nobody can come out and
boast hundred percent that they are all
PDP candidates. The president might
have contested and won the election
under the APC political platform but
when it comes to governance, he is a
president to everybody regardless of
whether you are PDP, APC, APGA,
LABOUR, KOWA, etc. Even if we agree
that the last administration made a
political blunder by employing them at
the tail end of their tenure, the
punitive measure which is being
undertaken by the leadership of the
service (CGIS) should be enough to
neutralize such blunder. My little
knowledge of mathematics says minus
multiply by minus gives us plus
(positive). These youths should not
suffer for the sins they know nothing
about.
Lastly is the effort of their trainers and
resource persons. There is no doubt
that the three months their induction
lasted was a period of busy schedule
for their trainers, instructors and
resource persons. They have equally
sacrificed a lot to make sure that these
youths are well groomed in order to
prepare them well for the challenges
ahead. It is my opinion that the efforts
put by these officers and men should
never be in futility.
In conclusion, the president remains a
father and president to all regardless of
political affiliation. Opportunities
abound everywhere to this
administration that is trying to put
Nigeria on the right track. Take this
great step and RECALL THE DISPERSED
#NIGERIAIMMIGRATION2000