Mixed reactions have trailed President Goodluck
Jonathan’s approval of a Special Presidential Committee to assist
the Immigration Department to re-conduct the aborted recruitment.
THe department had on March 15, conducted the exercise during
which many applicants died and others wounded from stampedes
in the venues.
Some stakeholders and applicants of the aborted exercise, who
spoke on Friday in Abuja, said the decision was a good
development.
Others were of the opinion that setting up a committee to conduct
fresh recruitment was premature as adequate compensation to
victims of the exercise was yet to be made.
Mr Frank Tietie, the Executive Director, Citizens Advocacy for
Social and Economic Rights (CASER), said it was important for
victims to be compensated before a fresh exercise was conducted.
He said that the issue of infringement on the rights of applicants
was yet to be addressed, adding that compensation given to the
dead and injured applicants had no legal effect.
Tietie explained that there were adequate laws that provided
compensation for victims in the circumstance and the Federal
Government was yet to adhere to them.
“The compensation announced by government is not legal as there
is adequate law in place that talks about the kind of compensation
to be given to victims.
“We are presently working to see that the law of the country as it
affects this matter is adhered to,” he said.
“We saw how immigration officers beat and mishandled applicants
on the day of the exercise and these officers have not been
sacked.
He said that the civil defence corps, fire service, immigration and
prisons board should be investigated rather than being allowed to
carry out a fresh recruitment.
He criticised the manner in which previous NIS recruitment were
carried out.
Tietie said If there were proper investigations, the March 15
tragedy would have been avoided.
He advised that the committee set up by the president to conduct
fresh recruitment into the NIS be put on hold.
Tietie said this would allow for proper investigations and
prosecution of officers who were in charge of conducting the March
15 exercise.
Dr. Simon Dolly, the National President, Youth Wing Christian
Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), said setting up a committee
was a good development.
He said that the compensation given to the families of the dead
and injured victims was, however, inadequate, adding that
government needed to do more.
“Government should further compensate their families by training
them in schools up to the university level.
“They should be given at least 5 job slots and financial
compensations should also be given.” Dolly said.
He noted that if fresh recruitment was made, the youth would still
participate as the high level of unemployment in the country did
not give them any other choice.
He advised that applicants who would be employed after the fresh
exercise should be based on merit.
He called on government to create job opportunities for youths not
only in the immigration service but other sectors of the economy.
“Our youths have the zeal and ability to contribute their best in the
development of the country so they should be given the
opportunity to do so.”
The national president said the success of the 2015 election
depended largely on government’s ability to engage as many
youths as possible before the elections.
Dolly said this was because many youths roamed the streets,
looking for jobs which made them vulnerable hence they could
easily be recruited as political thugs.
Miss Attadu Uneku, an applicant who was a victim of the
stampede, expressed joy over government’s decision to grant
employment to the injured.
Uneku, who was being treated for spinal cord and leg injuries at
the National Hospital, Abuja, said the automatic employment was
good compensation after the ordeal she went through.
“After what I went through that day, if I had not been granted a job,
I would not have participated in another exercise.
“When I am discharged from the hospital, I have a job waiting,”
she said.
Another applicant, Mrs Anastasia Omajali, said that if the fresh
exercise was going to be conducted with fairness, she was willing
to participate again.
Mr George Livinus, another applicant of the exercise, said he was
also willing to participate in another one.
Federal Government, in a statement by the Secretary to the
Government, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, announced the setting up of
a committee to conduct another exercise.
The committee has 12 weeks to conclude its assignment. (NAN)
Jonathan’s approval of a Special Presidential Committee to assist
the Immigration Department to re-conduct the aborted recruitment.
THe department had on March 15, conducted the exercise during
which many applicants died and others wounded from stampedes
in the venues.
Some stakeholders and applicants of the aborted exercise, who
spoke on Friday in Abuja, said the decision was a good
development.
Others were of the opinion that setting up a committee to conduct
fresh recruitment was premature as adequate compensation to
victims of the exercise was yet to be made.
Mr Frank Tietie, the Executive Director, Citizens Advocacy for
Social and Economic Rights (CASER), said it was important for
victims to be compensated before a fresh exercise was conducted.
He said that the issue of infringement on the rights of applicants
was yet to be addressed, adding that compensation given to the
dead and injured applicants had no legal effect.
Tietie explained that there were adequate laws that provided
compensation for victims in the circumstance and the Federal
Government was yet to adhere to them.
“The compensation announced by government is not legal as there
is adequate law in place that talks about the kind of compensation
to be given to victims.
“We are presently working to see that the law of the country as it
affects this matter is adhered to,” he said.
“We saw how immigration officers beat and mishandled applicants
on the day of the exercise and these officers have not been
sacked.
He said that the civil defence corps, fire service, immigration and
prisons board should be investigated rather than being allowed to
carry out a fresh recruitment.
He criticised the manner in which previous NIS recruitment were
carried out.
Tietie said If there were proper investigations, the March 15
tragedy would have been avoided.
He advised that the committee set up by the president to conduct
fresh recruitment into the NIS be put on hold.
Tietie said this would allow for proper investigations and
prosecution of officers who were in charge of conducting the March
15 exercise.
Dr. Simon Dolly, the National President, Youth Wing Christian
Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), said setting up a committee
was a good development.
He said that the compensation given to the families of the dead
and injured victims was, however, inadequate, adding that
government needed to do more.
“Government should further compensate their families by training
them in schools up to the university level.
“They should be given at least 5 job slots and financial
compensations should also be given.” Dolly said.
He noted that if fresh recruitment was made, the youth would still
participate as the high level of unemployment in the country did
not give them any other choice.
He advised that applicants who would be employed after the fresh
exercise should be based on merit.
He called on government to create job opportunities for youths not
only in the immigration service but other sectors of the economy.
“Our youths have the zeal and ability to contribute their best in the
development of the country so they should be given the
opportunity to do so.”
The national president said the success of the 2015 election
depended largely on government’s ability to engage as many
youths as possible before the elections.
Dolly said this was because many youths roamed the streets,
looking for jobs which made them vulnerable hence they could
easily be recruited as political thugs.
Miss Attadu Uneku, an applicant who was a victim of the
stampede, expressed joy over government’s decision to grant
employment to the injured.
Uneku, who was being treated for spinal cord and leg injuries at
the National Hospital, Abuja, said the automatic employment was
good compensation after the ordeal she went through.
“After what I went through that day, if I had not been granted a job,
I would not have participated in another exercise.
“When I am discharged from the hospital, I have a job waiting,”
she said.
Another applicant, Mrs Anastasia Omajali, said that if the fresh
exercise was going to be conducted with fairness, she was willing
to participate again.
Mr George Livinus, another applicant of the exercise, said he was
also willing to participate in another one.
Federal Government, in a statement by the Secretary to the
Government, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, announced the setting up of
a committee to conduct another exercise.
The committee has 12 weeks to conclude its assignment. (NAN)
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