The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has promoted 7,000 personnel.

This is contained in a statement by NIS spokesman Kenneth Kure on Wednesday.

The NIS stated that the promotions were contained in a letter signed by the secretary of the Immigration, Civil Defence, Correctional and Fire Service Board (CDCFIB), Jafaru Ahmed.

Mr Kure was promoted to assistant comptroller.

The newly-promoted personnel comprised senior officers who passed regular examinations and junior staff who acquired additional qualifications.

The acting NIS comptroller-general, Adepoju Wuro-Ola, approved the appointment of Tony Akuneme as comptroller of the FCT command. Comptroller Joseph Dada became the new principal staff officer to the acting comptroller-general.

“Mr Dada, a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, has served in various commands in the NIS and was, until his recent appointment, the comptroller in charge of Marine Border Corps in the service headquarters,” the statement explained.

The NIS added, “It will be recalled that 12 Comptrollers were recently redeployed to different states, including FCT, Kano, Jigawa, Ondo, Ogun, and Mfum Border Control, among others.”

Addressing NIS personnel during a monthly parade, the statement said the acting CGIS charged them to put the image of the job above personal interests.

According to Mr Adepoju, NIS is one of the noblest institutions and the first agency that any visitor to Nigeria would meet upon arrival.

Mr Adepoju promised to prioritise personnel welfare and vowed that promotion would be based on seniority.

“It is disheartening to see senior officers stagnated and their juniors elevated over them. Any staff who is not well-motivated cannot guarantee quality output,” he stated. 

(NAN)