Immigration boss questioned for not recruiting relations of 2014 stampede victims

The House of Representatives has directed the Ministry of Interior to regularise the employment of victims of 2014 Nigeria Immigration Service recruitment tragedy and commence payment of salary to them.

The ministry and Immigration authorities are to also urgently include the salaries of the 176 persons involved in the ‘’compensation’’ recruitment in their 2016 budget estimates.

The directive was given by the house’s Ad Hoc Committee on "Immigration Recruitment Stampede’’ at its public hearing in Abuja on Tuesday.

Chairman of the committee and Leader of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, who gave the directive, decried what he described as ‘’nonchalance’’ of the government agencies to the order of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He reminded the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Abubakar Magaji, and Comptroller- General of Immigration, Mr Martin Abeshi, that the Federal Government had ordered the recruitment of relations of dead victims of the incident.

Three persons from each of the 15 dead persons’ families and 131 injured persons were entitled to the employment as directed by the former president.

But, at the hearing, Magaji and Abeshi, said they were not aware of the presidential order and therefore, not complied.