- Nigerian civil society coalition condemns planned tenure extension of retired Acting Comptroller General of Immigration Service
- Coalition asserts that extension violates immigration laws and sets a bad precedent, plans lawful action if extension continues
The Coalition of Civil Society for Rule of Law and Justice, a group of 15 Nigerian civil society organizations (CSOs), has condemned the planned extension of the tenure of the Acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Carol Wura-Ola Adepoju, by six months, claiming that such action violates Nigerian civil service rules.
The Coalition was shocked by the alleged planned extension, which it saw as illegal and should not be overlooked.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday after a roundtable meeting, the Convener of the Coalition, Nwogu Ndubisi, stated that:
The Acting Comptroller General Immigration is retired officially from the Immigration Service since May 31st 2023 and the Immigration Act do not give room for retired personnel or those that are not in the Immigration Service to head the Service. Wura-Ola has been retired since 31st May, and we were even shocked when she was appointed to act as Comptroller General for three months which we even perceive as illegal when there are eminently qualified officers still in Service.
Since the deed is done, she can only act as Comptroller General for three months and nothing more. Anything other than that by the Board or Mr. President would be illegal and unlawful, and any extension is like extending the retirement age of someone in service, which is not possible except the public service rule is changed.
Ndubisi also stated that “if this is allowed, it will set a bad precedent, and as a coalition, we will take all lawful action to stop this illegality if Carol Wura-Ola Adepoju doesn’t tow the path of honour, take a bow and quit the stage as Acting Controller General by the end of August 2023.”
On May 31, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Carol Wura-Ola Adepoju as Acting Comptroller General of NIS.
The CSOs, however, claimed that the action was taken because “the President was not properly briefed on her retirement status, but what puzzles us now is the proposed new 6 months extension after she had previously been granted 3 months to allow the Ministry to select a substantive Comptroller General.”
If she could not hold the Service in three months post retirement, what will she be able to achieve in 6 months? This move by those at the corridors of power leaves more to be desired. That is why Mr President has to know what some of his lieutenants are not telling him.
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