Senate committee: Service providers take 70 percent of immigration revenue

The senate committee on interior says service providers take away 70 percent of the revenue generated by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

Andy Uba, chairman of the committee, said this on Thursday while presenting a harmonised report of the senate and house of representatives on the 2017 internally generated revenue and expenditure of NIS for consideration.

Uba said it was shocking that most of the contracts with service providers were “endless”.

He said there was a need for some of the contracts to be terminated.

“During the meeting, the committee observed that the service providers take away greater percentage (over 70 percent) of the revenue generated through the NIS facilities,” the chairman said.

“NIS is seriously working towards taking full control of the operations through the NIS technology project.”

The committee recommended that NIS should be given support in its proposed technology building project.

Contributing to the debate, Solomon Adeola, senator representing Lagos west, said the country “is in bondage”.

“Nigeria is in bondage. I tell you, sir, that the comptroller-general, not in confidence, but in the presence of all various stakeholders and partners said he is ready to take charge if given the necessary atmosphere but as it is, his hands are tied,” Adeola said.

“You find out that these various providers – there is one based in London, that one has never appeared before anybody before in Nigeria. We invited him several times but he refused to come.

“At the end of the day, when you look at the sharing formula, a certain amount of money goes straight to even the minister, ministry of interior every month. The one you have seen. The Nigerian Immigration Service which they have shared, that is why you have garbage in, garbage out asides what is coming from the central budget.”

Senate President Bukola Saraki said the percentage taken away by service providers is “ridiculous.”

He also wondered why the anti-graft agencies had not probed the agreements between the service providers and the federal government.

The senate suspended the consideration of the report on the budget of NIS and resolved to invite Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation, and Abdulraham Danbazau, minister of interior, among others.

They would meet with chairmen and vice-chairmen of the senate committees on judiciary, internal affairs and anti-corruption.