Nigerian Immigration Ranks And Symbols
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) was carved out of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in August, 1958. It was at that time referred to as the Immigration Department and headed by the Chief Federal Immigration Officer (CFIO).
The Immigration Department was established by an Act of Parliament (Cap 171, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) on August 1, 1963 when Alhaji Shehu Shagari was the Minister of Internal Affairs (a position now referred to as Minister of Interior).
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Read Also: How to Apply in Nigeria Immigration Service
The Immigration Act of 1963 which was amended in 2014 and again in 2015 (Immigration Act, 2015) was the initial Law regulating Immigration Duties in Nigeria.
Structure of the Nigerian Immigration Service
The service has the following departments:
1. Human Resource Management
This department is responsible for biometric registration of all employees. It also manages the staff of the Immigration Service, engages in the appointment, training, and promotion of employees as at when due.
In addition, it ensures the welfare of workers, considers gender issues and develops human resources capacity in the service.
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2. Planning, Research & Statistics
This is department conducts research and develops recommendations for the management of the organization. Statistics are analyzed in this department and the results are used forecasts and plans are made for further actions. It also provides technical support to all objects connected with the ICT.
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This department is responsible for monitoring the implementation of procurement contracts in accordance with Procurement Act.
It also develops, executes and controls projects in accordance with specifications and ensures reliable, timely logistics and deliveries.
4. Finance & Accounts Directorate
The Finance and Accounts Department provides financial support for the successful operation of NIS, ensures budgeting and careful monetary control.
They are also responsible for timely payment of staff salaries and benefits. They are also responsible for all revenue generating related transactions and record keeping in the service.
5. Investigation, Inspectorate & Enforcement Directorate
The department is responsible for investigations concerning violation of legislation relating to immigration. They also brief applicants wishing to obtain Nigerian citizenship on eligibility and issue Status Reports for the issuance of expatriate quota.
It is empowered to carry out forced repatriation and insist on the enforcement of the Deportation Orders. It also monitors the cases of smuggling of migrants and human trafficking.
Staff of the department carry out Surveillance, Hotel monitoring, and inspection of Companies, Suspect Index management, and the verification of illegal migrants as well.
Read Also: 8 Functions of the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Ministry
6. Operations & Passports
This department handles all issues related to Visa/Entry Permit, Standard Passport and all travel documents. They process various Immigration facilities within a set period of time and ensure Successful implementation of new rules of Visa Policy.
They also Investigate and cancel false passports when found. They carry out work with the credible watch sheet which is distributed to passport offices and periodically updated.
They also store soft-copies of former residents of Nigeria who have renounced their citizenship and ensure their passports are correctly cancelled In addition, agreements are concluded between two or more parties in this department.
7. Ranks in the Nigerian Immigration Service
There are two rank structures of the Nigerian Immigration service. The former rank structure has the Director of Immigration Service as the highest rank while the current rank has the Comptroller General of Immigration as the highest.
The ranks discussed in this article are the current ranks and there are no symbols found for them. Below are the ranks in descending order of seniority, which are of the officer and non-officer cadres.
8. Commissioned officer cadre
9. Comptroller General Immigration Service (CGIS)
This is the highest ranking officer of the NIS. Only one person can have this rank at a time and is appointed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to be the head of the service. They are given a tenure of four years which is renewable given satisfactory performance in the first tenure.
10. Assistant Comptrollers General (ACGI)
This is the second highest rank in the NIS and is the rank for few officers who serve as assistants to the Comptroller General. They head major arms of the NIS and report to the Comptroller General.
11. Assistant Comptrollers (AC)
This is the third highest rank in the NIS just next to the Assistant Comptroller General. It is superior to the Superintendent of Immigration and is a senior officer rank in the service.
12. Superintendent of Immigration
The Superintendent of Immigration is a top Immigration rank which is just under that of Assistant Comptroller. It is the second lowest rank of the officer cadre of the Immigration that is just senior to the Assistant Superintendent of Immigration.
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13. Assistant Superintendent of Immigration (ASI)
This is the lowest officer rank of the service which university graduates get recruited into. All officers of the service start from this rank and work their way up.
14. Non-commissioned cadre
15. Senior Inspector of Immigration (SII)
This is the highest non-commissioned rank of the service. It is the highest rank attainable by enlisted personnel of the service. All non-officers retire at this rank or before they get to it.
16. Assistant Inspector of Immigration (AII)
This is the second highest non-commissioned rank in the service and the third lowest of all the ranks. Personnel with this rank are under Assistant Inspectors.
17. Immigration Assistant (IA)
This is the second lowest rank of the Immigration Service. It is senior to the lowest rank but inferior to the other ranks. People of the lowest rank get promoted to this rank after meeting promotion conditions.
18. Passport Officers
This is the lowest rank in the Immigration Service. Non-commissioned personnel get recruited into this rank and work their way up the ranks.
Read Also: 15 Functions of Nigeria Immigration Officers
Conclusion
The ranks discussed here are all the ranks of the Nigerian Immigration Service. The information may not be sufficient so if you have any further information especially the symbols for all the ranks then you should add in the comments section so that other people can get it. I look forward to getting your comments and thanks for reading.
