Extension of Immigration Chief’s tenure is in the interest of the nation

By Balarabe Isaac

The instigated protest against the extension of the Acting Controller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Idris Isah Jere by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces is misplaced at best, at worst, ridiculous from faceless group going by the name ‘Concerned Nigeria Immigration Stakeholders’.

This group should be reminder – in case they forget – that it is one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s strategies and unwritten policies towards ensuring that high-fly competent individuals in position of authorities with unequalled delivery are allowed to see through the implementations their innovative ideas.

Needless to point out that President Muhammadu Buhari has the prerogative to extend tenures of any exceptionally performing service men at his discretion as he has done repeatedly across board in the last 7-year plus. Mr Idris’ tenure extension falls into the categories of individuals with extraordinary capability in public service for repositioning NIS to the admiration of international communities.

In the last few years, President Buhari in his wisdom, has extended the tenures of all the Military Chiefs in December, 2017 and many more thereafter. Similarly, in September, 2019, the President extended the tenures of Seven Permanent Secretaries in Federal Ministries; ditto in 2021 when the President extended the tenure of the former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu. The current Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba is serving up his extended tenure after clocking 60 on March 1, last month.

It is out to place to pick and choose individuals who should be protested against amidst several public servants President Buhari extended their tenures; particularly that of Immigration Chief whom Nigerians are celebrating for digitalizing e-passport processing without the usual deliberate stress to punish passports seeking Nigerians.