Buhari retires immigration CG

The Governing Board of the Nigeria Immigration Service, on Wednesday, served a retirement notice on the acting Comptroller-General of the service, Isah Idris, effective on or before April 24, 2023.

In a secret memo sighted by The PUNCH, the board cited the expiration of the one-year extension of service granted by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), directing the CG to hand over to the most senior Deputy Comptroller General.

The memo, dated April 17, 2023 with code number CDCFIB/APPT.CG&DCG/61/VOL.IV/74, was signed by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board Secretary, Obasi Edmond, on the orders of the board chairman and the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.

It was titled: “Notification of expiration of one-year extension in office as acting Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service.”

It read: “I write to draw your attention to the end of the one-year extension in office granted to you by Mr President via a letter no. SH/COS/42/3/3/A128 and dated April 22, 2022, which would be expiring on April 24, 2023.

“Consequently, you are directed to hand over to the most senior Deputy Comptroller-General on or before Monday, April 24, 2023, pending Mr President’s appointment of a substantive Comptroller-General of the Service.

“The board is grateful to you for your immense contributions to the Nigeria Immigration Service and to the country and wishes you success in your future endeavours.”

The PUNCH reported that the Concerned Nigeria Immigration Stakeholders had, in an open letter on Sunday, urged the President not to extend Idris’ tenure.

They warned that such a move could spark internal disputes that may snowball into full-blown protests by the service’s personnel.