“We abandoned schools, jobs to take immigration job”
When Peter Benjamin got the mail informing him that he had been given a job at the Nigerian Immigration Service in 2015, he couldn’t believe his ears.
And given that he applied not giving much thoughts to his chances of being successful, his surprise was justified.
But there it was. The mail which arrived on the eve of his 20th birthday.
It “directed me to go to Nigeria Immigration Training School, Ahoada, Rivers state for documentation and collection of appointment letter on May 25, 2015”, Benjamin told NewsroomNG.
Benjamin still believes God had a hand in his success at the recruitment exercise.
But nothing in the mail prepared him for what he has gone through in the last one year.
“I went to Ahoada expecting to get the appointment letter and return as the invitation later had stated so I went with just my documents but it turned out that I spent eight days struggling to get my appointment letter.
“With just one trouser, one shirt, the underwear I had on and my return fare which I was left with, I had to ‘patch’ life like every other person in the mosquitoes infested camp we were permitted to sleep in.
“We took care of our meals, and had to call home for assistance to survive,” he said.
Eventually, he got the posting letter. It “mandated us to immediately report to our various state commands for a three months induction course”.
His was Akwa-Ibom.
“For three months under sun and rain, class room, parade ground and offices, we were taught the rudiments of the service.
“We went from parade to weapon drills. We were shown how international passports are produced, how to issue cerpac, work permit, expatriate quota and so on.
“And during those months, we had to take care of our accommodation, feeding and other logistics hoping to be paid after six months as was the custom.
“We were even made to buy accoutrements like uniforms, beret, t-shirts and others.
But just two days before the passing out parade, “we were called and informed that we were given a two week break”.
Everyone jubilated. Until they got home.
“When we got home, we saw a dispersal circular. Since then we have heard nothing from the service,” Benjamin continued.
“And so many have been left frustrated since then. So many had to abandon school, some others suspended studies since we were told that such a result would not be honoured by the service.
“Still many others, including my humble self, had to resign from the little job we were managing just to answer a clarion call from out fatherland,” he added.
Last week, the NIS said in a statement said it would commence the re-screening of the dispersed lot for re-admittance.
The service however listed several guidelines for the screening of the applicants including security clearance, drug-test, certificate verification as well as the implementation of CDFIPB policy on “Age on Rank”.
The recruits say the “Age on Rank” policy shouldn’t be applicable to them as it is a new introduction, and they are also asking for the payment of all the salaries they have been deprived of hence the protest.
But their president ignored them.
In case you missed that, the protesting recruits spent the whole of Friday night and Saturday morning waiting to see their president. They waited for 29 hours in all.
