The Federal Government may have ended the dichotomy between holders of university degrees and Higher National Diploma.
This development came to thefore on Thursday when the Nigeria Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Board announced the abolition of the dichotomy in all the Services under it.
The decision was said to have been taken at the end of the Board’s meeting held on July 11.
The meeting was presided over by the Minister of Interior, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau.
The Board approved the regularization of the dichotomy between holders of University degrees and Higher National Diploma in all the Services.
To this end, the Board directed that all officers with HND be upgraded to COMPASS 08, which is the salary Grade Level for holders of Degree certificates at entry point.
The Board said while the nomenclature for the HND holders will start with the rank of Senior Inspector, the Degree holders are with the rank of Assistant Superintendent II. 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 approved the establishment of the Institute of Domestic Security. It is 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 Directorates, each to be headed by Deputy Comptroller-General, are Human Resources Management; Finance and Accounts; Planning, Research and Statistics; Passport and Other Travel Documents; Investigation and Compliance; Border Management; Migration; and Visa and Residency
Dambazau stated 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 will reciprocate the 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.
