Insecurity: NARIO rejects border guards, seeks improved funding, welfare for NIS By Ibironke Ariyo
By Ibironke Ariyo
The National Association of Retired Immigration Officers (NARIO) has opposed calls for the establishment of Border Guards, urging the government to adequately fund and strengthen the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
The President of NARIO, Dr Charles Okafor, a retired Comptroller, made the call at the association’s maiden Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday in Abuja.
Okafor spoke on the theme: “Strengthening Institutional Capacity and Autonomy amidst Operational Challenges: Repositioning the NIS for Border Security, Revenue Generation, Investment Promotion and Sustainable National Development”.
He attributed alleged persistent neglect of the NIS to what he described as public misconception about its core mandate.
“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 it is not true.
“The core mandate of the service is migration management and border security in times of peace as practised in countries such as the United States, Spain and Canada,” he said.
Okafor noted that the misconception and misinformation surrounding the mandate of the NIS had contributed to the creation of border security units by other organisations and called for parallel structures, including border guards.
He questioned the funding and welfare of NIS personnel, as well as the operational capacity of the service.
“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 being asked as to how much is NIS funded? Why is NIS not optimally effective and efficient and what is the welfare of NIS officers?
“These are germane issues to national border security and not the proliferation of agencies,” he said.
The NARIO president urged the authorities to give the NIS greater attention in the country’s security architecture.
“We plead with the authorities to take the plight of NIS seriously in considering the nation’s security architecture. It is not a favour,” he said.
Beyond funding, Okafor decried what he described as the sustained neglect of serving and retired immigration officers, particularly in the area of welfare.
He said several NIS officers had lost their lives in the course of protecting the country, but their sacrifices and welfare had received less attention compared with those of personnel of some other security agencies.
“It is on record that 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.
Okafor expressed hope that serving officers would receive better protection and welfare in the event of occupational misfortunes at their duty posts.
“NARIO hopes that our serving officers will be adequately assured like sister agencies’ personnel in case of any misfortunes at duty posts,” he added.
On the welfare of retired personnel, he said members of the association were concerned about what they perceived as disparities in the treatment of retired security personnel across agencies.
According to him, 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 nation without any mention of their welfare.
“They wonder if they are actually at the right place or their services are not recognised? Let me speak for them here, we feel unfairly treated.”
Okafor called on the NIS, its Board and the Ministry of Interior to revisit the retirement conditions of immigration officers, particularly in view of the revenue generated by the service for government.
He disclosed that NARIO was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on Oct. 20, 2022, describing the maiden AGM as the “rebirth and launch of the association to national and international limelight”.
He said the objectives of the association included catering for the welfare of members, promoting unity and cooperation among them, and serving as an advisory body to the leadership of the NIS and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on migration management and national security.
Okafor however said that NARIO was not a labour union, but a partner to institutions overseeing the affairs of the NIS and its personnel.
Responding, The Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, who was represented by Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) Jika Ogbeche, said the welfare of retired officers remained a priority of her administration.
Nandap said she had directed the Deputy Comptroller-General (DCG), Finance and Accounts, to compile and forward to her office all outstanding liabilities relating to retirees.
She said the liabilities include death benefits, repatriation allowances, pensions and other entitlements.
“I feel your pain. I hear your concerns. I understand the burden. Let me assure you that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We will address these issues as a matter of priority. You are not forgotten,” she said.
The comptroller-general described the retired immigration officers as the “institutional memory” of the service, noting that their experience and counsel would be required in making critical decisions.
She urged members of NARIO to remain available to support the service whenever their expertise was required.
Nandap also announced plans for the establishment of an Immigration Resource Centre to formally harness the experience and expertise of retired officers in the development of the service.
