By Gibao Brima

Immigration Department needs to be treated with all amount of seriousness by the Government since this department is the first point of call  to handle all visitors entering into Sierra Leone for the first   time either by air or by road.

Equally so immigration officers are responsible for checking out on all foreign nationals residing in the country.

Therefore, in a bid not to mortgage  their job or put the image of the nation into disrepute, it is time for such a state institution be treated with some amount of seriousness and the institution should be given a face-lift.

It was good for the new uniform given out to immigration staff by the outgone Chief  Immigration Officer Hon  Alusine Kanneh.

The new uniform adds dignity and respect to staff but just uniforms is not enough.

Staff are going home with peanut salary which cannot handle

their domestic problems such as to paying children’s school fees, rents, transport fares among others things.

Furthermore promotions are key to help motivate serving staff members.

These undermentioned issues if addressed will help to prevent staff from allegedly engaging in massive corruption.

It is time to address the system of divide and rule in this state institution; this is something the new administration and team need to take into consideration in a bid to bringing sanity and respect to the sector.

Departmental heads who are in positions should be given free hands in executing their duties rather than holding up job descriptions without motivations and making them appear as a laughing stock.

The newly appointed Chief Immigration Officer has a task being the third Chief in President Bio’s sixth year administration.

So be vigilant and have open ears.