The news of an alleged plot by Idris Isah Jere, the Acting Comptroller General of Immigration Services (CGIS) to extend his tenure for another one year period appears to be causing the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to boil.
According to the report, the CGI was due to have proceeded to retire from service last year but was asked to continue in service for one year, which ends this April.
However it appears the Immigration boss is not done as stakeholders claim that he has intensified fresh lobby within the corridors of power to again have his tenure extended.
Stakeholders led by Akinwale Ayomipo Dennis have petitioned President Mohammadu Buhari decrying the impending plot which they said have stifled development and weakened morale of personnel of the service.
Akinwale, in a position he canvased on behalf of Concerned Nigeria Immigration Stakeholders said their outcry was motivated not due to any personal interest but geared to protect the integrity and sanctity of foremost paramilitary agency.
The petition reads in part, “We are a group of patriotic Nigerians writing under the aegis of Concerned Nigeria Immigration Stakeholders who are worried about recent developments in the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).
“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”.
“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 Stakeholders laments that CGI Jere’s tenure as Acting CGI of service have been most uneventful, stressing that the NIS have retrogressed wondering what will become of the service after another year of the Immigration boss..
They pointed out that the hallmark of the NIS under Jere is the excruciating pains Nigerians go through acquiring the international passport.
“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.
The group added, “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.
“We are even more concerned that aggrieved personnel of the NIS may embark on an embarrassing protest against further tenure elongation for the acting CG which may negatively affect the image of the service,” the group added.
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