FG removes HND, First Degree dichotomy in paramilitary agencies

Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu

THE Federal Government has removed the age-long dichotomy between holders of university degrees and Higher National Diploma (HND) in all the paramilitary agencies under the Ministry of Interior.

This was contained in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Abubakar Magaji, on Thursday in Abuja.

According to him, the approval was made by the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Board (CDFIPB), at the end of its meeting held on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Interior, Lieutenant Gen Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau.

To this end, the Board directed that all officers with HND to be upgraded to COMPASS 08, which is the salary grade level for holders of degree certificates at entry point.

He added that while the nomenclature for the HND holders would start with the rank of Senior Inspector, the degree holders are with the rank of Assistant Superintendent II.

Magaji said the Board also approved the commencement of the Year 2017 promotion exercise for all the services with effect from July 17, 2017.

In order to boost internal security mechanism, the Board accordingly approved the establishment of the Institute of Domestic Security aimed at strengthening inter-agency cooperation, among other functions.

In another development, the Federal Government has approved the re-organisation of the Nigeria Immigration Service in line with the provision of Immigration Act, which stipulates the establishment of Directorate of Immigration.

The statement indicated that the directorates, each to be headed by Deputy Comptroller-General, are as follows: Human Resources Management; Finance and Accounts; Planning, Research and Statistics; Passport and Other Travel Documents; Investigation and Compliance.

The Permanent Secretary others as Border Management; Migration and Visa and Residency.

He quoted the Minister of Interior as saying that the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari places high premium on the welfare of its workforce and hopes that officers and men in the Services would reciprocate this gesture through improved performance and dedication to duty, in line with the Executive Order on the Ease of Doing Business, so as to revamp the economy.