As part of efforts to build and sustain quality workforce, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has entered into a joint capacity building collaboration with the International Centre for Migration and Policy Development (ICMPD).
The event was held on Tuesday at the Service Headquarters Abuja.
The Project tagged: “Modernising Nigeria Immigration Service’s Workforce (MoNIS)”, is one of the capacity development funding interventions from the Danish government and implemented by ICMPD.
The project is targeted at supporting the service in institutional reform efforts with a view to modernising its Human Resource Management system and improving personnel efficiency and quality service delivery.
Speaking at the occasion, the acting Comptroller General, Isah Jere Idris stated that the Service has continued to demonstrate huge commitment to capacity building of the workforce for enhanced productivity and workplace harmony. He noted that the Service is deliberately aligning its training and career development activities into a clear career path framework for improved efficiency as well as promote gender mainstreaming. This is where the interventions from agencies such as ICMPD remain very important to the Service, he affirmed.
He further stressed that “some of the fundamental topics of our time in both public and private work environment are the issues of career progression and gender equality. This he said is largely because the changing realities of our society have made these subjects increasingly crucial to the motivation of employees as well as equal treatment and opportunities for the female folk”.
The acting Comptroller General noted that the Service is one of the most gender friendly government agencies in Nigeria with a record of two women who have led the Service as Comptrollers General of Immigration. He reiterated that women Officers do not have any career limitations in the Service as five of them are currently heads of Directorates while many others are heads of Commands and Formations.
Idris thanked the Danish authorities for sustaining the existing healthy relationships and the ICMPD for their strong commitment to project implementation.
In her remark, the Regional Head of ICMPD (West Africa), Mrs. Mojisola Sodeinde said that the project is aimed at supporting the NIS in drafting key Policy Documents, Personnel Guidelines, training Curricula as well as Operational directives which will form the basis for developing an efficient, competent, better performing and productive workforce that is ready to face the complex challenges of an increasingly difficult work environment.
In his keynote address, the Minister of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola described the Project as an excellent initiative stressing that capacity building is the heart and soul of every organization. He enjoined all personnel to take good advantage of the project to not only improve themselves but also make quality contributions to the Service and the country as a whole.
One of the major highlights of the event was the formal inauguration of the Project Steering Committee/Technical Working Committee by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
Dignitaries at the occasion include the Danish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Sune Krosgstrup, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama, represented by Director Legal and Counselor Services Amb. Akinremi Bolaji, Minister of State, Budget and National Planning represented by Mallam Abdullahi Yakubu and Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps represented by ACG Ibrahim Ningi among others.
