FG resigns Idris, Interim head of immigration

Isah Idris, the acting Comptroller-General of the Service, received a retirement notice from the Nigeria Immigration Service’s Governing Board on Wednesday, effective on or before April 24, 2023.

The board instructed the CGI to turn over to the most senior Deputy Comptroller General in a covert document obtained by Newsmen. The board cited the expiration of the one-year extension of service provided by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd).

Obasi Edmond, secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, signed the memo on April 17, 2023, at the direction of Rauf Aregbesola, board chairman and interior minister. The document’s code is CDCFIB/APPT.CG&DCG/61/VOL.IV/74.

It is 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 one-year extension in office granted to you by Mr President via letter no. SH/COS/42/3/3/A128 date April 22, 2022, and 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 Concerned Nigeria Immigration Stakeholders reportedly petitioned the President not to prolong Idris’ term on Sunday.

They cautioned that such a move might lead to intra-service conflicts that could escalate into full-fledged protests by the staff.

The CNIS said it was aware of Idris’ alleged efforts to campaign for a tenure extension when his present term expires on Monday, April 24, 2023, in an open letter to the President that was signed by its spokesperson, Akinwale Dennis.

Deputy Comptroller-General (Accounting) Idris took over as acting CGI in September 2021 following the retirement of Muhammad Babandede, the previous CGI.

According to civil service regulations, the acting CGI was supposed to retire on April 24, 2022, at the age of 60, but Buhari gave him an extra year.

The tenure extension was announced by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, in a letter dated April 22, 2022, and written to the Minister of the Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.

Idris’ name appeared first on a list of 804 immigration officers who will be retiring between January 1 and December 31, 2022, dated December 6, 2021.