By Ikenwa Charity
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to extend the tenure of Mrs. Kemi Nanna Nandap as Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) until December 31, 2026.
HURIWA in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko alleged that President Tinubu’s approval of Mrs Kemi Nanna Nandap, along with other recent tenure extensions, favors individuals from the South West geopolitical zone, describing it as inelegant, inappropriate and an abuse of power.
The right group noted that the President’s action presented the entire institutional agency of the Nigerian Immigration Service as that lacking in competent, professionally qualified and massively experienced pull of senior officers who can be automatically and seamlessly railroaded to the post of Comptroller-General of Nigerian.
HURIWA’s National Coordinator expressed disappointment that President Tinubu, who was once a pro-democracy advocate against the military dictatorship of late General Sani Abacha under the canopy of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), has become an ethnic leader promoting nepotism and tribalism in government appointments.
HURIWA emphasized that inclusivity, merit, competence, and patriotism should be the primary considerations for appointments, rather than nepotism, tribalism, and partisanship.
HURIWA recalled that the special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Monday, explained that Mrs Nandap began her career in the Nigeria Immigration Service on October 9, 1989.
Tinubu appointed her as Comptroller-General on March 1, 2024, to serve till August 31, 2025.
“Under her leadership, the Nigeria Immigration Service has witnessed significant advancements in its core mandate, with notable improvements in border management, modernisation of immigration processes and national security measures,” Onanuga said.
Tinubu commended the Comptroller-General for her exemplary leadership and urged her to continue dedicating herself to the Service’s strategic priorities, which align with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the Nigeria Immigration Service in fulfilling its mandate to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity and promote safe, legal, and orderly migration.
HURIWA frowned at the nepotism that underline the president’s action and wondered whether the president would do the same supposing the occupant is of Igbo or Idoma ethnicity just as the Rights group recalled that the President did a similar thing in the Nigeria Police that almost created internal schism which was eventually managed through massive purge of many so-called ambitious and activist senior police officers by the hierarchy of the Nigeria police favoured by President Tinubu.
The group also criticized the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), for failing to provide correct interpretations of statutes to President Tinubu and for behaving like a politician rather than the chief law officer.
HURIWA said “Attorney-General of the Federation has repeatedly failed to give the correct interpretation of the statutes to President Tinubu and has always behaved like a politician rather than the chief law officer of all of Nigeria. HURIWA cited the infamous role of the AGF in the ongoing illegality of suspension of a sitting governor of Rivers state Mr. Siminilayi Fubara which the Attorney-General of the Federation saw nothing wrong even when the Constitution does not permit such a political heresy. “
HURIWA which carpeted the president for the controversial tenure extension for the IGP, recalled that Mr. Egbetokun was appointed IG in October 2023 and was supposed to retire upon reaching 60 on September 4, 2024.
Shortly before that, President Bola Tinubu pushed the Police Act (Amendment) Bill 2024 to the NASS to amend the Police Act of 2020.
This was to enable Egbetokun to complete a full term of four years.
The Public Service Rule 020810 declares a compulsory retirement age for all grades in the service to be 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service, whichever is earlier.
However, there are exceptions in certain sectors, such as judges and civil servants in tertiary institutions that provide for retirement at 70 and 65 years, respectively. HURIWA stated that the IGP ought to have retired to give room for the rise of younger and qualified officer to take his place but the Rights group said it believed that the friendship and ethnic affiliation of Mr. Egbetokun counted positively for why he wasn’t compelled to retire when he clocked 60 years as clearly spelt out by the public service Rule which is a legal statute as well.
