Crisis brews at NIS over non payment of servicemen promotion arrears
Crisis seems to be brewing at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) over the failure of the current management to pay servicemen promotion arrears dated back to 2017.
Source close to the service stated that all efforts by the servicemen to ensure the payment of their promotion arrears since 2017 proved abortive.
It was gathered that the promotions were done across board by the present leadership in NIS, led by Mr. Muhammad Babandede, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service.
But, Mr. Sunday James, the Service Public Relations Officer (PRO) debunked the claim and said rather than complain; the affected servicemen should appreciate Babandede for promoting them when he came onboard.
Some of the affected officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to talk in public, said that since Babandede came onboard, no one had been paid promotion arrears, despite the claim by the service that the leadership had taken welfare of its officers as a top priority.
One of our sources, who retired as a top management officer, decried that some of the affected staff had retired from service, but despite this, they were yet to get their entitlements from NIS, including promotion arrears of 2017 till date.
The source explained that affected staff had wanted to apply individually for their entitlements, but the service advised them against it, saying that payment for the entire servicemen would be carried out collectively.
Another source in NIS, stated that one Yerima, the Assistant Comptroller-General, Finance, NIS, when contacted in 2018, specifically said that the service had the names of officers to be paid the arrears, assuring that the promotion arrears would be paid according to the ranks of officers affected and dissuaded them against going ahead with their individual claims.
The source, however, lamented that some of those affected by the promotion arrears had retired from the service since 2017 and wondered when they would be paid what was due to them.
The source said: “Ever since we were promoted in 2017 across board, we have not been paid our promotion arrears. This is not just about senior service men, but it included even the junior ones.
“Meanwhile, the service keeps telling us that the welfare of officers is being taken care of, but because of the nature of our job, we can’t come out in the public to debunk most of their claims. The service also owes staff arrears on transfer 28 days in lieu of hotel accommodation.
“The CG has not been paying all these things, yet we keep telling the world that the service has been good on the welfare of its officers. Also, some of the officers were promoted in 2018, 2019 and now, we are in 2020, yet nothing is done in promotion payment.”
Responding to the allegation, Mr. Sunday James, the PRO, NIS, said that the affected officers should commend Babandede for promoting them.
James, however, expressed surprise that promotion arrears of 2017 were yet to be paid and advised affected staff to apply to the service through their Head of Admin in their various commands.
He insisted that the service would follow all due diligence before releasing any amount of money to servicemen, stressing that without this, nothing would be done.
He also wondered why the officers would complain of non-payment of arrears at this time, stressing that before Babandede came onboard, several of NIS officers were stagnated without promotion.
He said: “Promotion arrear from 2017 is not believable. Ask them whether they applied with all requirements for processing their request, financial regulation is very clear concerning every entitlement due an officer. Let them meet the Head of Admin in their command, ask for the procedure, else they can’t go to the press complaining as uniform officers. There is a right channel to follow through their offices.
“The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service Muhammad Babandede has done more than enough promoting stagnated officers on ground before he assumed duty, they never complained of stagnation before he came on board. They should appreciate him for promoting them including myself, and do the right thing.
“This administration will not pay monies that cannot be defended with evidence. Let them follow due diligent process, by forwarding a reminder to the Comptroller-General through their Comptroller. For us in Nigeria Immigration Service, promotion is no longer an issue and you can’t jump and leave your colleague behind like before.”
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