By Omeiza Ajayi

The Nigeria Immigration Service NIS and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development ICMPD have begun a capacity audit and training for the implementation of a new career progression framework and training policy.

The framework would ensure that officers and men of the Service are promoted and also deployed based on their on-the-job trainings.

At the event in Abuja, Head, West Africa Region of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development ICMPD, Mojisola Sodeinde, said the initiative is under the Modernization of Nigeria Immigration Service MoNIS project.

Represented by the Project Manager, ICMPD West Africa, Matthias Esene, the regional head said the initiative would link training to promotion and deployment.

‘”In other words, training becomes a criteria for promotion and deployment. We are developing a more sustainable process that would ensure that all immigration personnel have access to training that is tailored to their job. The idea of the MoNIS project is to prepare the NIS workforce to have the right incentives to be able to engage with their different publics as people who are the gateway to the country”, she stated.

Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Kemi Nanna Nandap in her address said it was time to measure the capacity of the Human Resource Management Directorate to implement the new Career Progression Training Policy Framework CPTF.

Represented by the Assistant Comptroller General ACG in charge of Training and Staff Development, Ada James Umanah, the CGIS said; “I urge all officers here to ensure that answers are given to the very best of your knowledge on the probing questions that would be asked of our processes and systems to enable the very best solutions and tool to be developed for the benefit of the Service. Be reminded that you have been painstakingly nominated due to the schedules you handle, the experience and insight you would bring to the table to ensure this activity is a resounding success”, she said.

On her part, the ACG in charge of Appointments, Promotion, Discipline and Personnel, Anne Adesokan, said the programme ensures transparency in staff promotion as it helps to eliminate mediocrity and enhance professionalism.

ICMPD said the Modernization of Nigeria Immigration Service MoNIS project represents a significant effort to enhance the human resources and training systems of the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS.

Funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and executed by the ICMPD, the three-year initiative which began in August 2021 and would run till July 2024, is designed to revolutionize the NIS through three primary objectives: the establishment of a career progression and training policy framework, expansion of training accessibility via Virtual Learning, and the integration of gender mainstreaming in both administrative and operational capacities.

“The MoNIS project aims to instil a demand-driven training policy that directly correlates training with career progression, deployment opportunities, and personnel performance evaluations. It focuses on customizing training modules for each core department to meet the specific competency requirements of their operational staff”, ICMPD said.