February 05, (THEWILL) — The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has inaugurated 108 Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) desk officers across its formations nationwide, as part of renewed efforts to entrench integrity, accountability and ethical governance within the Service.
The inauguration, which took place on Thursday, marked a major step in strengthening transparency and professionalism across the NIS.
Speaking at the ceremony, Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, said the deployment of the officers represents a critical milestone in building a proactive, grassroots framework to promote ethical standards within the Service.
“We are gathered not merely to inaugurate officers, but to entrench a proactive, grassroots architecture for ethical governance”, Nandap said.
She disclosed that the newly deployed officers comprise 12 posted to the Service Headquarters and 96 drawn from state commands nationwide. According to her, the officers were carefully selected based on proven integrity, courage and sound judgment. While those posted to the headquarters took their oath of allegiance at the ceremony, others are to be sworn in at their respective commands.
Addressing the officers, the Comptroller-General described them as ethical champions and standard bearers tasked with safeguarding professionalism and credibility within their formations.
Nandap outlined three core responsibilities of the ACTU desk officers—enlightenment, deterrence and punishment. On enlightenment, she said the officers are expected to carry out continuous education and awareness programmes on ethical standards, service regulations and relevant laws to foster a culture of integrity across the Service.
On deterrence, she explained that the officers would serve as confidential and credible channels for reporting misconduct, while on punishment, they would collaborate with Command Comptrollers and ACTU headquarters to ensure that established cases of unethical conduct are addressed in line with applicable laws and regulations.
She added that the officers would also monitor compliance with transparency initiatives, including the transparent auction of seized items, and enforce service standards in passport administration, visa processing and border operations to ensure that violations attract appropriate sanctions.
The CG urged heads of formations to provide the officers with the necessary support and an enabling environment free from obstruction or intimidation, stressing that their mandate was not to undermine command authority but to reinforce it.
“Their mandate is not to undermine command authority, but to reinforce it. See them as partners in building formations defined by credibility and pride”, she said.
Representatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Army pledged their support and collaboration with the Service. The ICPC representative, Olusegun Adigun, said the officers would enhance transparency, monitor ethical compliance and conduct corruption risk assessments, while the Army representative, Lt. Col. S.H. Sanadi, reaffirmed the military’s commitment to internal controls and cooperation in anti-corruption reforms.
Speaking on behalf of the 108 officers, R.A. Bashiru commended the Comptroller-General’s digital reforms, noting that they had “operationalised integrity” within the Service.
Nandap emphasised that the inauguration sends a clear message that under her leadership, the Nigeria Immigration Service maintains zero tolerance for corruption and remains committed to building a professional, transparent and respected institution.
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