FG To Review Visa Policies, Upgrade Salaries Of Paramilitary Officers

The federal government is set to review its migration and visa policies to ease the process for Nigerians both at home and abroad.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during a courtesy visit by the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Tunji-Ojo said that the ministry is concerned about some lopsidedness in existing migration and visa policies, which tend to make Nigeria a dumping ground.

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According to him, the review would take into account the principle of reciprocity in line with international standards.

The Minister also stated that the government is concerned about the general challenges with passport processing, capturing, and collection, assuming that everything possible would be done to make the process more efficient.

In a separate development, Tunji-Ojo also disclosed in a statement on Tuesday through its spokesperson, Ajibola Afonja, that he has been in talks with the Nigeria Salaries and Wages Commission to upgrade the salaries of paramilitary officers to be on par with the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.

He also said like the military, the Federal Government was considering the establishment of a pension board for personnel of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigerian Correctional Service.

According to him, the paramilitary personnel deserve an improvement in their salaries as well as a pension board, due to the hazards involved in their duties.