NIS Introduces Code of Conduct, Electronic Data Management System

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has released a code of conduct for its officers and men, just as it unveiled an electronic data management system (EDMS) as part of efforts to achieve a paperless system.

Launching the two initiatives in Abuja yesterday, the Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, expressed optimism that they would take the NIS to the next level, improve efficiency and make its officers and men a pride of the nation.

He said the launch of the Code of Conduct and Ethics Document for the NIS was not only timely, but apt especially for the service whose critical mandates demand that its Officers and Men regularly display the highest level of discipline, diligence, promptness, vigilance and transparency in operations and activities.

Aregbesola said: “As the gatekeeper of the nation, NIS cannot but regularly showcase the cherished virtues of integrity, courtesy, sound morality and uncommon transparency in its official conducts.

“The mirror of the largest black nation of the world which the NIS represents, must not only be crystal clear at all times but must be attractive, courteous, engaging and pleasant.”

He added: “This will demand that all the Officers and Men get acquainted with their expected roles and responsibilities and get guided by the principles and standards of behaviours in the discharge of their duties.”

He explained that the essence of setting codes of conduct and ethics for an agency such as the NIS was to ensure that actions, dispositions and behaviours of the workforce conform significantly to the laid down rules of engagement, noting that with the code of conduct and ethics for the workforce “NIS should therefore, emplace an unambiguous benchmark upon which ethical behaviours, values and actions shall be weighed to ensuring compliance to the laid down processes and procedures,” he said.

On the EDMS, Aregbesola said there was no more hiding place for officers and men of the NIS, stressing that all their activities are now on line and could easily be adjudged.

He said: “You are now exposed through this system that does not give room for manipulation, you have to be truly and fully professional.”

Earlier speaking, the Comptroller General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede said: “As an agency that has both local and international appeals, we have come to realise that except we deliberately re-jig our processes, practices, conducts and indeed, procedures we shall not be able to contend with the unfolding realities and challenges of modern migration and border security.”

He noted: “Globalisation and its attendant consequences have continued to reduce spaces, expand connectivity and improve uncommon relationships among persons, organisations and governments.

“New ideas, practices, processes and innovations are daily hitting the global landscape constantly and consistently. An agency such as the NIS with both local and international impact, cannot in the face of these massive developments stand aloof but embark on deliberate human capacity upgrades that would produce courteous, diligent, disciplined, skilled and transparent workforce.”

On the code of conduct, Babandede said. “Our central goal for developing a document such as this, is to acquaint our personnel with our core value of zero tolerance for corrupt practices and our high premium for strong integrity culture and effective and efficient service delivery.“

He said the Service chose to introduce EDMS and put an end to papers because it cannot continue to conduct its’ operations and processes using old tools and processes.

Babandede said: “We understood that the process and manner of passing operational files and others correspondences in the typical civil service manner will no longer make good meanings to the fast-paced developments in the global migratory realities.”