UN envoy lauds conferment of national honour on Immigration boss, others

The Acting Head of Mission and Country Representative, International Peace Commission of the United Nations, Ambassador Hussaini H. Coomassie, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the conferment of national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) on the Comptroller General of Immigration, Isah Jere Idris.

President Buhari on Tuesday conferred various categories of national honour awards on 440 Nigerians and seven foreigners.

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In a congratulatory message he personally signed in Abuja, Coomassie, who is also the global vice chairman, of Advocacy for Good Governance & Social Justice Network (AGGSJN), said the Immigration boss deserved the national award, having demonstrated core attributes of a professional in his national assignment and for his immeasurable contributions to the growth and development at a revenue generating agency where he is serving as the number one staff.

Also honoured by the President is the Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Visa and Residency, Isiaka Abdulmumuni Haliru, who was also conferred with the award of the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).

The UN envoy also felicitated with the duo of Martins Kure Abeshi and Muhammad Babandede, former Comptrollers General (retired), who were awarded the ranks of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) and Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) respectively.

According to Coomassie, Idris has a remarkable and credible record of simplicity and humility in public service, with a proclivity for bringing harmony and stability into governance.

While rejoicing with all the awardees from the NIS, Coomassie particularly noted that “the recognition of the Comptroller General is due to his humane leadership style and dogged efforts at repositioning the country’s immigration service as one of the best migration management and border security agencies in the world.

“There is no doubt in my mind that this National Award from the President will encourage the management of NIS to do more for the upliftment of the Service in particular and Nigerians in general.

“On behalf of the International Peace Commission of the United Nations, I hereby celebrate with the management, officers and men of the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Comptroller General and the other awardees of the Service for the honour bestowed on them and I wish them to sound health for more contributions to organisations and nation building at large.”

The National Honours Awards was established by the National Honours Act of No 6 in 1964 but took retroactive effect from October 1, 1963.

At the national event on Tuesday, the Senate President Ahmed Laman; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola; the President’s Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari; Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, several ministers and other important dignitaries were in attendance.