Immigration Officers Abroad Owed Allowances; Advocate Seeks President's Intervention

A civil liberties advocate has urged Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing issue of unpaid allowances for officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) stationed in foreign missions. Advocate Steve Aluko stated that some officers are facing financial distress due to being owed allowances for as long as 15 months.

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This is the greatest level of injustice.

Speaking at a press conference in Jos, Aluko implored the federal government to settle these outstanding entitlements before recalling officers from their posts. He also called for a thorough review of the deployment process, citing concerns about uncertainty for newly appointed attachés and reassignment of existing postings. Aluko described the situation as "the greatest level of injustice" and advocated for an inquiry to ensure transparent and procedural management of deployments.

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We are not asking the immigration service to keep the officers on foreign mission indefinitely. What we are saying is simple: pay them what is due before they are returned home.

The delayed payments have reportedly led to significant financial difficulties for the affected officers, impacting their ability to cover essential expenses such as rent, school fees, and medical costs while serving outside Nigeria. Aluko stressed that the demand is for officers to receive their due payments before returning home, highlighting their crucial role in Nigeria's international relations and revenue generation.

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The people who are owed, it’s not sure they owe them a salary, but allowances, and even the allowance will be paid. That is the federal government that is owing them.

Responding to the claims, the NIS spokesperson, A.S. Akinlabi, confirmed that the dispute centers on allowances, characterizing it as an administrative matter. Akinlabi assured that the federal government is responsible for these payments and that affected personnel have been mobilized for deployment. He urged calm among stakeholders, promising that the outstanding payments would be addressed, and emphasized the importance of immigration personnel to national security, including counter-terrorism efforts.

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Either it’s allowance or salary, these people are entitled to what they work for.