NIS officers protest 15-month unpaid salary increase

NIS officers protest 15-month unpaid salary increase 24 Aug 2015 12:48 AM  Some officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service on Sunday said the suspended Comptroller-General of Immigration, David Parradang, owed them 15-month salary increase. The officers, who spoke with our correspondent in a separate interview, expressed anger that the salary increase was from May last year to August, 2015. One of the officers who identified himself as Uche said Parradang commissioned over 1,000 officers for a national assignment tagged, ‘Border Patrol Corps’ in May last year at the Immigration Training School, Kano. He added, “The training lasted for two weeks. We were told that the assignment would attract 30 per cent salary increase and the first batch finished the training on May 26, 2014. But till now, we have not received a kobo. He also promised us 28 days allowance to cater for a month accommodation after the posting to the different state commands. But none of us has received that too.’’ President Muhammadu Buhari had on Friday ordered the suspension of Parradang with immediate effect following what was believed to be connected with the ongoing investigations into how a Lebanese terrorist, Ahmed Al- Assir, was issued a Nigerian visa by the Nigerian embassy in Beruit, Lebanon. A statement by the Director of Press, Ministry of Interior, Alhaji Yusuf Isiaka, directed Parradang to hand over to the most senior officer, Deputy Comptroller-General of Immigration, Martin Kure Abeshi. Also speaking, another officer who refused to give his name, said the number of the immigration corps owed hotel allowance and 30 per cent salary increase reached 2,000 on August 11, 2015, when another batch finished from the training school. He said, “These officers for the national assignment are the ones who now wear camouflage in the NIS. We were recalled from various state commands to train in Kano. Our posting bears ‘ITSK’ notwithstanding the border we were deployed to guard.’’ Besides, one of the aggrieved officers, who gave his name as Sheriff and an inspector, said apart from the unpaid 30 per cent salary increase, his 28 days hotel allowance amounted to N252, 000. However, the NIS Public Relations Officer, Emeka Obua, refused to comment on the matter but directed our correspondent to the office of the Comptroller-General. He said, “This is purely about finance. I do not want to comment on it. I am on leave at this period.” Copyright PUNCH. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. Contact: editor@punchng.com