Lawmakers to empower Immigration officials to bear arms

A bill to repeal the Federal Immigration Act, one of the oldest in the country which dates back to 1963 passed second reading at the House of Representatives yesterday.

The immigration law has several defects, including a lack of provision for the use of arms by immigration officers. However, officials of the service have borne arms illegally, lawmakers said yesterday and the overhaul, coming after many amendments, will authorise such use and empower the Service other areas.

The new law for instance, will touch on the expatriate quota - a touchy labour issue, particularly in the oil sector and other issues of immigration of foreign nationals. It will also replace the present headship of the service (Comptroller General) with a Director General.

Lawmakers noted that most of the provisions of the 47-year old Act were no longer in tune with present day challenges and therefore needed a long due overhaul.

“This is why most nations of the world take their immigration law very seriously to the extent that it a very big issue during campaign for election into public offices”, said Femi Gbajabiamila, (AC Lagos state.) The Nigerian Immigration Service presently administers the Expatriate Quota system, which outlines procedures and the size of foreign personnel working in the country, particularly in the oil and gas sector.

Trade unions in the sector have consistently raised complaints of domination by the foreigners and have called for increased quotas for Nigerians and technology transfer.

A proposal last year to set up an Expatriate Quota Administration Agency, was opposed by the federal government, which argued that it would amount to a waste of funds since the Nigerian Immigration Service can function in that regards if well funded.

Former Attorney General, Michael Aondoakaa advised that funding to the NIS be improved and that the proposal to establish a new Agency was “too shallow as it is out to address on the Oil and Gas sector only.”