FG Weeds Out HND Graduates in Ongoing NIS Recruitment

FG Weeds Out HND Graduates in Ongoing NIS Recruitment

Following the botched Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment held last year at various stadia across the country, which led to the untimely death of over 14 job seekers, the federal government has systematically weeded out HND graduates in the ongoing recruitment exercise.

The ongoing recruitment, which started about a week ago, has three categories of vacancies:  Superintendent Cadre - Assistant Superintendent of Immigration II (ASI II) – CONPASS 08, which is strictly for B.Sc holders; Inspectorate Cadre - Assistant Inspector of Immigration (AII) – CONPASS 06, for holders of ND and NCE; Immigration Assistant Cadre- Immigration Assistant III (IA3) – CONPASS 03 for ‘O’ and ‘A’ level holders.

This shows that the HND graduates are being forced under the present arrangement to use ND certificates as they are short of options and considering the high level of unemployment in the country.

Speaking with THISDAY at one of the cybercafes in Abuja where the registration is being done, an applicant, Mr. Usman Sikiru, a graduate of Adamawa Polytechnic, Mubi, said: “For two years now, I  have been looking for a job without any success, I’m left with no choice than to use my ND result so that I will be able to apply for the job.”

He lamented that the dichotomy between the HND and B.sc holders must stop.
Also, another applicant, Mr. Solomon Afijara, said: “Last year I applied for this same job before it was cancelled due to the death of some applicants and the woeful arrangement. We all paid the same amount with the B.Sc holders, but now government is trying to relegate us to the bench, is it a crime to be a polytechnic graduate?”

On his part, Mr. Ogunsanya Timothy who is also an applicant, stated that if the government cannot put a stop to the discrimination against HND holders, polytechnics in the country should be scraped.