No palliative for COVID-19 was given to NIS – CG

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it has not received any COVID-19 palliative for sharing to its personnel from government or private individual.

Mr Muhammad Babandede, NIS Comptroller General, disclosed this in a statement by Mr Sunday James, spokesman of the NIS, on Monday in Abuja.

He said that payments made to NIS officers was routine payments processed and paid in line with extant rules.

The immigration chief described the allegation of sharing palliatives to “cronies” as false and misleading.

Babandede urged the public to disregard insinuations in some media that an amount was received and shared among some officers.

He added that the publications were intended to cause disaffection within the rank and file of the Service.

“The attention of the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr Muhammad Babandede, has been drawn to a publication by section of the media.

“The publication alleged that N23 million was given to NIS as palliative payment to Officers and Men of the Service.

“For the purpose of clarification, there was no palliative given to the Service from the government or private bodies for distribution to its personnel.

“The payments made to the officers were routine payments processed and paid to officers in line with extant rules contrary to the publication

“The Comptroller General was in isolation and undergoing treatment during the process. There has never been an occasion for payment of money to so called cronies as alleged,” he said.

Babandede urged officers and men to continue to work as uniformed officers who are guided by standard operating procedures and code of professional ethics of service.