IgbereTV reports that the Nigeria Immigration Service has suspended the transfer of five of its officers to Borno, Yobe, Kano and other states for participating in a social media competition known as #Bopdaddy challenge.
The NIS stated this through Its Twitter handle on Friday. It said that the transfer was suspended pending the outcome of an investigation into the conduct of the said officers.
After participating in #Bopdaddy challenge initiated by musician, Folarinde Falana (aka Falz), the NIS Officers – Priscilla Irabor, Catherine Bakura, Blessing Udida, Binti Attabor, and Ockiya Eneni were transferred to states far from their duty posts for participating in the challenge.
Eneni was moved from the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card Production Facility to the Borno State Command.
Irabor was transferred from the Lagos State Command to the Nigeria Immigration Training School, Kano, while Attabor was posted from the service headquarters in Abuja to Yobe State Command. Udida from the FCT Command was sent to the Akwa Ibom State Command while Bakura was transferred from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to the NIS Training School Ahoada, Rivers State.
Their transfer announcement immediately sparked an outrage on social media, with Nigerians, including Falz, the son of Femi Falana (SAN), urging the NIS to reverse its position.
In reaction to the online protest, NIS tweeted, “The attention of the Comptroller General Muhammad Babandede MFR has been drawn to some trending matters on some social media platforms regarding the deployment of some of our Personnel to some Formations across the country.
“It is important to note that staff deployment remains a vital practice of regimented organisations such as ours and should be seen as such.
“As an agency, we maintain zero tolerance to any matters bordering on offences against discipline among members of our workforce irrespective of gender.
“We have a high premium for staff development and indeed encourage personal efforts but that must be within the confines of our rules and regulations.
“The matter involving the Personnel in question is still being investigated and therefore, the Comptroller General has directed that the earlier Posting Order be put on hold pending the conclusion of the investigation.”
The #Bopdaddy Challenge involves people video recording themselves transforming into a variety of clothes.
The five women were seen changing from their immigration uniforms into clothes which was condemned by the immigration authorities and led to transfer.
