At inception, my heart trembled for the outbreak of the rumour that went viral on social networks, sent by fellow Nigeria Immigration Service Recruits in other states that our induction programme has being placed on suspension by the service.
To me, I still did not believe until 24th of August, 2015 when the Comptroller of Immigration Service in my state command disseminated the information that the 3months induction programme has being suspended based on a circular sent from NIS headquarters Abuja, stating that 1,600 officers were recruited into the service "illegally".
How could this be?
The recruitment exercise was advertised in March 2015 by the Presidential Committee to Assist in Immigration Recruitment from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation not singly from the CGIs of NIS and as it was known that majority of the youths gallivanting around are jobless and those not jobless still seeks for greener pasture, interested youths all over the federation filled the application form online and uploaded all the necessary documents.
Applicants who met the stated requirements were short listed for a Computer Based Aptitude Test. The test was conducted by Dragnet, a firm that specialises in handling recruitment tests for reputable companies in Nigeria like Chevron, Oando and others in some designated areas across the nation, I noticed virtually every applicant within south-west home address did their CBT at Chams city plaza in Lagos state between 20th and 24th of April, 2015, those in the north did theirs in Abuja while Port Harcourt was also a centre for the south-southerners.
I got an e-mail from NIS that I passed the CBT and I have being shortlisted for physical examination, document verification and oral interview which is designated to hold in my state command. I went as instructed by the service and I was amazed that a recruitment exercise could be this free and fair at federal level. My height was measured, chest, checked my knees, tested my sight and my ability to hear and see clearly. Series of questions were asked by the officials based on what is studied at school and also series of verification were carried out on all my certificates presented that very day.
To my surprise, I received an invitation to obtain provisional appointment letter and undergo preliminary documentation at Nigeria Immigration Training School, Orlu, Imo State (NITSOL), while others went to Nigeria Immigration Training School, Kano (Assistant Superintendent 2) and Immigration Training School, Ahoada, Rivers State (Immigration Assistant 3). I immediately called some of my friends that we applied together but it was painful that I was the only fortunate applicant shortlisted out of twelve that applied among my friends.
It wasn't easy gathering money, travelling to Imo state especially during the fuel scarcity in the country. The process in the centres was another screening exercise on its own as it took up to a week due to the various stages of document verification and further certification of eligibility we were made to undergo. But surprisingly, the ASI 2’s were only issued with posting order to the NIS command in their different states of origin without being giving appointment letters like the IA3 and AII’s.
The posting order read thus, “…I am directed to inform you that the above named newly recruited personnel has been posted to your command for attachment and induction with immediate effect, pending when they will be sent for training. The letter of appointment will be sent in due course. Please acknowledge receipt and date the newly recruited staff reports for duty”. The reason ASI 2’s were not issued their appointment letters is not known.
The induction programme started on the 1st of June, 2015 which encapsulated and encompasses lots of activities like early morning jogging starting from 6:00am, parade and drills, fatigue, just to mention few. Aside this, we also have a knowledge of the following courses: Immigration Act and Manual, Weapon Handling and Police Duties, Border Patrol, ECOWAS and African Affairs, Document Fraud, Passport and other travel documents, CERPAC/VISA/QUOTA, and Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour just to mention a few. We all have been specially trained in the rudiments of these courses in the last three months so as to carry out our duties effectively.
Most of the recruits have resigned from different places of work, rented an apartment, some have even borrowed money so as to survive pending the time we start getting salary, some spent heavily on transportation, feeding, buying of induction materials (white socks, white vest, white shorts, white tennis e.t.c)
Our passing out parade has been scheduled to come up on 1st of September, 2015 of which in preparation, we have being parading under the sun and in the rain, drills from the instructors and so on, we have gotten our accoutrements and preparing our minds towards that glorious day when the heart breaking circular came that after 3months far spent with rigorous exercise during the induction, we were placed on suspension.
Sir, I pray that the aforementioned should be sufficed to prove right our recruitment exercise free and fair.
I am scared of what might become of these recruits who have been trained in weapon handling if suspended from this job.
Thus, I solicit for myself and my colleagues to be retained as NIS successful candidates as we all never disappoint you
The life of many families and their NIS recruited personnel is surely and affirmatively attached and detrimental to the recruitment for psychological trauma that could result if we are laid off or dismissed.
Kindly accept my plea and cry on behalf of my colleagues as our President, father and inspiring mention that believes in excellent performance.
Anonymous
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