The Federal Government has appointed 15 new Assistant Comptrollers General (ACGs) of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), alongside 95 officers promoted to the rank of Comptroller.
The appointments are part of a larger promotion exercise involving 13,977 immigration personnel.
During the decoration ceremony held on Friday in Abuja, Ahmed Ja’afaru, Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), announced that five officers were also awarded special promotions for exceptional performance. One officer was recognized for completing a task that saved the Service millions of naira.
Ja’afaru highlighted the unprecedented nature of the promotions: “There has never been a time in the NIS when this many officers were promoted. Many officers had been stuck in their positions for up to 10 years due to a lack of vacancies. This issue of stagnation has now been resolved under the leadership of the Minister of Interior.”
He added, “Five officers received special promotions, including one who delivered a job that would have cost the NIS millions if done by external consultants.
Kemi Nandap, Comptroller General of the Immigration Service (CGIS), praised the government’s commitment to career progression and growth within the Service, emphasizing that the promotions would eliminate career stagnation.
“Stagnation is now a thing of the past in the NIS. This has been made possible by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo,” she said.
Nandap lauded the Board’s efforts in ensuring a fair, transparent, and timely promotion process, adding, “The 2024 promotion exercise is historic, with 13,977 personnel promoted. This mass promotion sends a strong message about our dedication to rewarding excellence and fostering a motivated and capable workforce, prepared to meet the challenges of a modern world.”
The promotion included 6,697 officers, advancing from Assistant Superintendent of Immigration II (ASI2) to ACG, and 7,280 personnel promoted from Immigration Assistant II (IA2) to Inspector.