Abba Moro Blames Self,Devil For NIS Recruitment Tragedy

The Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, Thursday took responsibility for the March 15 death of 16 people during the recruitment exercise held for the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), saying, “the buck stops at my table”.

While appearing at the opening of a two-day public hearing held by the Senate Committee on Interior on the exercise, Moro said he regretted that a well-intended exercise ended in tragedy.

“As the Minister of Interior, under whose purview this unfortunate exercise took place, I cannot abdicate my responsibility. The buck stops at my table,” he said.

He said the decision to conduct the recruitment through online applications was informed by his personal experiences with regards to the recruitment process into the paramilitary services under his supervision as Minister of Interior.

“On my assumption of office as minister, I took cognisance of the unprecedented challenges facing the recruitment processes, procedures and practices in the paramilitary services under the supervision of the ministry.

“Such experiences were characterised by incoherent procedures, favouritism, job racketeering and unequal opportunities, among others, and therefore needed immediate attention. “The noble task before me was to institute measures that would ease the application procedures, enthrone an open and transparent process, allow for equal opportunities, institute a process for the engagement of qualified and deserving persons and also to ensure the reflection of federal character, pursuant to the applicable federal laws.

“In December 2012, the immigration service approached me with a waiver for the recruitment of 4,556 personnel from the Office of the Head of Service of Nigeria. The conduct of that recruitment was marred by controversy and accusations of tribalism, nepotism, job racketeering and lopsidedness. The exercise was cancelled.

“The recruitment procedures into the service is as contained in the Act establishing the board and guidelines for appointment, promotions and discipline for use in the Civil Defence, Fire Service, Immigration and Prisons Services,” he explained.

Moro, who also blamed the devil for the failure of the exercise, said contrary to allegations against him that he unilaterally took the decision on the exercise, a board meeting was held in May last year on the matter, adding that another one was held in January.

He also said he opted for the e-recruitment exercise in view of its successes when employed by the navy, army and some other paramilitary agencies.