From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
It was jubilation galore at Federal Secretariat Owerri on Tuesday as the newly promoted Assistant Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Imo State Command, N.M Ezugwu with other top brass of the Command decorated the 76 newly promoted officers with their new ranks before members of their families, friends and associates.
Ezugwu who was until last week, the Command’s Comptroller but now elevated to Assistant Comptroller General in charge of Zone E, Owerri was exceedingly happy, as she pointed out that, this is the first time in the history of the Command that such number of officers received promotion even as he advised them on the need to be patriotic, dedicated and committed in there duties noting hard work and discipline as the hallmarks of good officer and promotion.
She charged the beneficiaries of the promotion on the need for them to be good Ambassadors of NIS and to gird their loins in preparations to defend the nation at all time, stressing that self discipline and decorum should always be their watchwords.
Ezugwu maintained that though hard work pays but promotion comes from Almighty God and enjoined officers that did not benefited from the promotions to exercise patience, that definitely there own will come at God’s appointed time.
Earlier before the well attended decoration ceremony of the newly promoted cum upgraded officers, the workaholic Deputy Comptroller supervised and took a salute from the scientific parade of the 31 newly recruited Superintendents of Immigration who were passing out from their three months basic intensive induction training before proceeding for their 3 months officers training courses.
According to her, “as para-military officers now, you should be ready and willing to defend the nation at all time, be disciplined and demonstrate leadership by examples, patriotism, humility and respect, must be your watchwords” she advised them.
The Assistant Comptroller General reminded them that as Immigration officers that they are part and parcel of the nation’s security ambassadors, and further enjoined them on the absolute need for them to be role models and to shun all forms of crime so as to justify the trust and confidence reposed in them, as stated in their oaths of service and allegiance.
She also commended them for their physical fitness and advised others who are yet to benefit from the exercise not to be dejected or demoralized but to sustain their faith in God and wait for their turn, saying all about life is turn by turn.
The highlights of the evergreen occasion were personal donation of quality new furnitures comprising 30 chairs and 30 tables by the Assistant Comptroller General.
She freely and equitably distributed them to the various departments and offices of the Command and presentation of a book titled, “Military and Para-Military Agencies “the Core Elements and Cooperate Strategies” by author DCI, JC Ncharam, Pec.
Ezugwu expressed dissatisfaction that her efforts to relocate the Command to a more conducive and independent environment did not materialized but assured them that the Minister of Interior Services has taken it as a responsibility to relocate them by next year to their permanent site at Avu, Owerri West LGA of the state .
Mrs. Ezugwu who later gave a break down of the officers elevated said that while 12 officers were promoted from the rank of Chief Superintendent of Immigration (CSI) to Assistant Comptrollers of Immigration (ACI).
20 Officers were promoted from the rank of Superintendent of Immigration (SI) to Chief Superintendent of Immigration (CSI).7 Officers were promoted from the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI) to Superintendent of Immigration (SI).17 Officers were promoted from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Immigration one (ASI1) to Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI) including the Command PRO *DSI CN OKERE.13 Officers were also promoted from the rank of Assistant Superintendent two (ASI2) to Assistant Superintendent of Immigration one (ASI1).7 Inspectors were elevated to Officers cadre to the rank of Assistant Superintendent two (ASI2).
In her votes of thanks, Mrs. Sunday Boniface, one of the promoted officers who gave God Almighty the credits for the promotion expressed gratitude to the Comptroller General of Immigration, CGI Caroline Adepoju for given priority attentions to workers welfare.
Boniface also thanked ACG Angela Ilo-Okoye of Zone E for her labour of love as well as Mrs. Nkechi Ezugwu, the State Command Comptroller who she said has been promoted to ACG for her visionary leadership, motherly advises and motivations.
She reminded all the promoted for the challenges ahead and prayed God for the strength and wisdom to overcome.
ACG Nkechi Ezugwu, the Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in the middle with the newly recruited Superintendents after the match pass. Pix by Everest Ezihe, Owerri
76 officers of NIS, Imo Command get promotion
