
Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tuesday, lamented the rots in diplomatic postings by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, as well as passports racketeering by the Nigeria Immigration Service.
He spoke when he declared open a public hearing, by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, which is probing into alleged malpractices in diplomatic postings by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the racketeering in the issuance of Nigerian passports by the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS.
He said that the Foreign Ministry, its departments and agencies had been involved in alleged malpractices adding that the House had resolved to investigate the matter owing to the number of petitions it received from the diplomats and the general public on it.
Chairman of the House Committee,Hon.Buba Yakub said that the probe is in line with the President Muhammad Buhari’s avowed stand on zero tolerance for corrupt practices by public office holders.
He said the probe is to beem searchlight on consular services offered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigeria Immigration Service to citizens of Nigeria at home and in diaspora.
He also urged them to ensure that the issues of posting of staff are done in accordance with laid down principles noting that the ministry is the mirror through which citizens see what happens around the world.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Geoffrey Onyeama told the committee that Nigerians in diaspora should be provided with a 24 hours call centre where they can call and feel free to discuss any issue of concern to them.
The Controller-General Nigeria Immigration Service NIS Mr Mohammed Babandede,explained that the agency’s posting of staff is based on certain criteria.
He said his agency issues visa and travelling documents to Nigeria citizens in the Nigerian embassies and High Commissions abroad.
He added that the new visa policy has allowed citizens to have dual citizenship and added that the visa on arrival policy had contributed to the ease of doing business in the country.
He hinted that the agency had removed visa processing from embassies and high commission,adding that it introduced temporary passport for Nigerians abroad to enhance their movements.