About 2,000 recruits into the Nigeria Immigration Service, who were disengaged after their training in 2015, on Monday protested their sack at the Ministry of Interior.
The protesters stormed the Ministry of Interior with various placards demanding their reinstatement into the NIS.
The 2,000 applicants were recruited in 2015 following a presidential directive in the aftermath of the Immigration recruitment stampede that led to the death of over 40 persons nationwide, but were later disengaged after three months training.
Rex Elenu, the leader of the group, told the News Agency of Nigeria that they were at the ministry to protest their disengagement and press for immediate reinstatement.
Elenu said they had embarked on a similar protest in April to the Ministry of Interior and were assured by the Permanent Secretary that the issued would be addressed.
He said: “We are here to protest our disengagement from the NIS.
“We have our duly signed letter of appointment, except for the Assistant Superintendent cadre, whose letter of appointment falls under the purview of the board.
“We toiled for three months during our training across the country, but till date no government official has deemed it fit to issue a statement on our plight and the injustice meted to us.
“We therefore implore the Honourable Minister of Interior to say something and do something now because our reinstatement is not negotiable.”
Elenu alleged that the NIS recently engaged some workers in a secret recruitment/replacement, while their case had not been unattended to.
The Comptroller-General of the NIS, Muhammad Babandede, who later came to address the crowd in company of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Bassey Akpanyung, pledged to look into the matter.
Babandede said although the problem was inherited as he just assumed office, he would do all he could to resolve the issue in line with due process and the change agenda of the present government.
Babandede urged the protesters to be disciplined and conduct themselves peacefully while he meets with their leaders to find an amicable solution to the problem
NAN
