The Concerned Nigeria Immigration Stakeholders (CNIS), a civil society organization, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to consider a tenure extension for Idris Isah Jere, the acting comptroller general of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).
In an open letter to the president, Akinwale Ayomipo Dennis, convener of the CNIS, said there have been plans to extend the tenure of Jere, who retired from the service on April 24, 2022, after acting for seven months following the retirement of Mohammed Babandede in September 2021.
Dennis said Jere, after his retirement last year was asked to continue in an acting capacity for another year, noting that he would be rounding up on April 24.
“Our worry is not about personal interest but about protecting the integrity and sanctity of the Nigeria paramilitary structure particularly the Nigeria Immigration Service and more importantly is the preservation of your legacy as a rare nationalist and principled retired military officer who understands and imbibe the fundamental concept of morale in military and paramilitary system,” the letter reads.
“We are compelled to write this letter to you, being the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and father of all including all the officers (rank and file) of the Nigeria Immigration Service.
Sir, permit us to draw your attention to the planned further extension of tenure of the current Acting Comptroller General of the NIS, Idris Isah Jere, who officially retired from the service on April 24, 2022, after acting for seven months following the retirement of Mohammed Babandede in September 2021.
“But after his retirement in April last year, he was asked to continue as CG in acting capacity for another one year which will elapse on April 24 this year.”
The group argued that under Jere’s watch, Nigerians have had to go through a lot of beuarucratic bottlenecks o acquire new international passports.
“To say the least, his tenure as acting CG has been uneventful and appeared to have set the service backwards in several ways which we do not want to divulge to the public,” Dennis said.
“But the one that is already public knowledge is the delay and the stress Nigerians go through to acquire new international passports. We cannot begin to recount the damage that has been done to the image of the NIS in the last one year.
“But more importantly, and of more concern to us is the plan by the acting CG to seek another extension in clear contravention of service rule.”
“We are aware that the acting CG has been lobbying to ensure he gets another one year in office. We have proof of this, and the latest is a letter he wrote to all directorates of the NIS dated April 12.”
“In the letter titled “Official Assignment,” he informed the directorates that he would be traveling for assignment to come back on April 25. This is a date beyond the one-year extension he was given. The implication of this is obvious: the acting CG is already looking forward to another extension.
“Dear Mr President, it will be a disservice to Nigeria and a tragedy for the NIS if Idris Jere succeeds in getting another extension when there is a pool of more competent officers to occupy the CG position.
“We are therefore appealing to Mr President not to entertain any argument to extend the tenure of the acting CG as this may irreparably damage officers’ morale with the consequent effect on service delivery.”
