…Over moves to appoint new CG
No fewer than 30 senior immigration officers in the ranks of
Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) and Deputy Comptroller-General (DCG)
of immigration service might be unceremoniously laid off if presidency
goes ahead to appoint a junior assistant comptroller-general, as the new
comptroller-general of the service.
An Immigration officer told Daily Sun that at a time the nation was
facing serious security challenges and needed the expertise of such well
trained officers, it was feared that any such decision to compulsorily
retire them would further worsen the crisis of confidence that rocked
the immigration service prior to the exit of the immediate past
comptroller-general, Mrs. Rose Uzoma.
Immigration sources revealed that as the appointment of a new
comptroller-general was being awaited, three names had been shortlisted
and sent to the Presidency as possible candidates for the position. Top
on the list is the current acting Comptroller-General, Mr. Rilwanu Bala
Musa, who hails from Bauchi State. Second on the list is Mr. Ayo Tunde
Oredipe, currently an ACG from Ogun State, while the third is Mr.
Mohammed Babandede also an ACG. He is from Jigawa State.
While Musa, who took over from the immediate past CG in acting
capacity by virtue of being the most senior deputy comptroller general
is said to be largely enjoying the support of many senior colleagues,
there was the question of what criteria were used in the shortlisting of
Oredipe and Babandede. It was gathered from top immigration sources
that even Babandede had been recommended by the Minister of Interior,
Abba Moro, as the favoured choice to be announced as the new boss of
immigration service despite of his being a junior assistant
comptroller-general.
The fear now in top immigration quarters was that if President
Goodluck Jonathan goes ahead to approve the recommendation, it means
all the officers, who are senior to Babandede might be compulsorily
retired, as it would be abnormal for them to serve under him. The senior
officer said: “This move would spell doom for a service that already
has security challenges to contend with, as more terrorists are
infiltrating the country by the day from neighbouring countries.”
According to top immigration sources, there were many ACGs and DCGs,
who were better qualified administratively and intellectually and could
assume the position of CG than junior ones, so Musa’s appoinment should
be confirmed automatically but if there was any reason why Musa could
not be confirmed as the substantive comptroller-general, seniority
should be the criteria. There is the argument that if Rilwanu Musa, who
is the most senior and currently acting as CG is not confirmed as
substantive boss of immigration, the presidency should resort to
excellence, efficiency, discipline and seniority as the best criteria.
The bad feeling already being generated within the ranks of senior to
officers is expected to increase if President Jonathan goes ahead to
appoint junior officer as the new comptroller-general and the
immigration service is not likely to be the same again as the rate of
indiscipline emanating from both those who are contemporaries and those
who enlisted same time with the junior, but currently on lower ranks may
be difficult to contend with. This, sources argued would not augur well
for a service already saddled with the challenges of checkmating the
influx of terrorist elements who come into the country to unleash
horror.
When contacted for comment, the Special Assistant to the Minister on
media, Mr. George Udor said the minister has no power to appoint a CG.
“It is like the appointment of the Inspector General of Police and that
of the Chief of Army Staff. The power to appoint a CG rests with he
presidency. He continued that there was no problem in Immigration
service as the man there was working. “All the stories are the handiwork
of mischievous people.”
SUN
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
-
Operating licences of 236 out of about 730 bureaux de change operating in Nigeria have been withdrawn by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CB...
-
By Juliana Francis One thing became crystal clear at the passing out parade and commissioning of 385 members of the Cadet Officers bas...
-
Seyi Gesinde reports the tragic death of Dr Myles Munroe, which occured aboard a plane which crashed while trying to land in The Baha...
No comments:
Post a Comment