“Dear President Muhammadu Buhari, please save Nigeria Immigration Service” – Concerned Nigeria Immigration Stakeholders

Isa Idris, the current acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service acting was the former Deputy Comptroller-General (Accounting). He assumed duty as acting CGI in September 2021 after the retirement of the former CGI, Muhammed Babandede.

On 24 April 2022, the acting CGI was due for retirement. However, by a letter dated April 22, 2022, and addressed to the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, the President’s Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, announced that his tenure was extended by one year and the extension was with immediate effect.

With the expiration of the one-year extension drawing closer, Concerned Nigeria Immigration Stakeholders have urged President Muhammadu Buhari  not to further extend the tenure of the acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Isa Idris. The CNIS have warned that such a move could spark internal disputes that may snowball into full-blown protests by the service’s personnel.

In an open letter to the President signed by the group’s spokesperson, Akinwale Dennis, the group claimed it was aware of ongoing moves by Idris to lobby for a tenure extension upon the expiration of his current term on Monday, April 24, 2023.

With only days away from April 24, 2023, however, the CNIS is asking the President not to extend the CGI’s tenure any further, to allow for the promotion of other equally qualified officers.