Transparency group, ESAGG, kick against plot to extend tenure of CG Kemi Nandap as the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)

A transparency and Good Governance advocacy group known as the Coalition for Ethical Standard,Accountability and Good Governance (ESAGG) has faulted the alleged plan to extend the tenure of the CG Kemi Nandap as the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for the second time.

CG Kemi Nandap tenure as Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) was extended by President Bola Tinubu for 18 months and it will end in September, 2025.

The Coalition for Ethical Standard, Accountability and Good Governance (ESAGG), in a statement issued on Monday and signed it’s President, Comrade Emeka Nwachukwu, argued that those behind the plot to further extend the tenure of CG Kemi Nandap to desist, as there would no longer be an extension and that CG Kemi Nandap should voluntary proceed on retirement.

According to the group, “The Public Service Rule (PSR) under which a public servant is expected to retire after 60 years of age or having served for 35 years, whichever comes first has no provision for extension.”

“Kemi Nandap having retired since 10/10/2024 and had an 18 months contract appointment expiring September 2025 now, having spent 365 Days ,we are counting Losses and Gains, high handedness of the CG Kemi NANDAP inimical to the growth and development of NIS.”

“When the former CG Wuraola Adepoju was removed by the lobbying of Kemi, which prompted the retirement of Six(6) DCGs that were her mates, paving way for her to become an acting CG, she was given 18 months from March, 2024 as a CGI, which means she has enjoyed extension against her retirement date of 10/10/2024.”

“She is expected to leave office by September, 2025, when the extension would have lapsed. she outwitted a female CG Wuraola Adepoju, who would have served her full term as CG. Wuraola left in March,2024 due to premature retirement. Everyone was looking forward to a male taken over, only for another female Kemi Nana Nandap to be appointed.”

“For Kemi Nandap, it was supposed to be an acting appointment, since her retirement was on the 10/10/2024 ,seven months from the date she was appointed. Only for her to be given a substantive and confirmed appointment to last 18 months until September,2025.”

” We, members of the Coalition for Ethical standard, Accountability and Good Governance (ESAGG), are calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remember his promise to Nigerians to give them Renewed Hope,the administration of the Nigeria Immigration Service under Kemi Nandap in the last 365 days has being a distortion of the Service Policies and Administrative Systems.”

“The Operations has being taken over by the Interior Ministry,a situation whereby you can not boldly say you are an Immigration Officer “an officer said in confidence”.

“The remaining Six (6) months left for her,she is busy running Helter skelter to lobby for extension of stay, even after the first 18 months extension given to her,because her actual retirement was on the 10/10/2024.”

“All her mates have retired, she is adding no value,but encroaching into the years of her Juniors,that is why she and the Minister are promoting unqualified Junior Officers to destabilize the service,another Officer said.”

“Mr President should save the NIS by appointing a thorough breed that can rejigg the service not a contractor that will be wasting resources in projects that does not add value and people friendly.”

“Within the last few months Immigration Officers were arrested for gun running within Abuja, yet she was not moved, various acts indiscipline and abuse of office under her watch,,her service records are there in her former commands, one of the officer said.”

“The effect of appointment without security clearance from DSS and background check for succession is killing the NIS,we are calling for her to vacate in September,2025 on the expiration of the 18 Months extension given her, since her original retirement was 10/10/2024. She has spent 12 months already out of the 18 months without impact.”

“Senior and junior officers alike are groaning under a bad administration,Mr President should endeavor to appoint a Sole Administrator preferably a Military to restore discipline and regimentation in the service, someone with credible record and experience to take the service forward, but we need experience and well knowledgeable person to change the system for good.”

“The Minister of Interior should stop interfering in the day to day administration of the Nigeria Immigration Service for better service delivery and to allow public evaluation of the performance and ability of the executive officer appointed by the President.”

” Posting is the prerogative of a service Chief and how come the Minister of Interior determines who is posted to where? As at present, the Passport Directorate is being headed by a Deputy Comptroller that was never a Comptroller but promoted to Assistant Comptroller General, and a Deputy Comptroller General, was removed to a new Directorate.”

“Mr President Must intervene to save the nation the greatest embarrassment of having an inexperience officer heading Passport Directorate. An audit account of the alleged sham contracts awarded between March,2024 and March 2025, will give Mr President the true picture of the can of worms in NIS.”