The Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has denied knowledge of the directive requiring the acting Comptroller-General (C-G) of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Isah Idris Jere to retire immediately.
Fielding questions from State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Council Chambers Presidential Villa, Abuja, the minister said: “It is Greek to me.”
Media reports earlier on Wednesday said that the Governing Board of the Nigeria Immigration Service served a retirement notice to the Acting CGI, Isah Idris Jere, effective on or before April 24, 2023.
Aregbesola is the chairman of that board.
The media reports had quoted the board as having referred to the expiration of the one-year extension of service granted by President Muhammadu Buhari, directing the CGI to hand over to the most senior Deputy Comptroller General.
The memo, dated April 17, 2023, with code number CDCFIB/APPT.CG&DCG/61/VOL.IV/74 was signed by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board Secretary, Obasi Edmond, on the orders of the Board chairman and Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola.
It is titled: “Notification of expiration of one-year extension in office as acting Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service.”
It read, “I write to draw your attention to the end of one-year extension in office granted to you by Mr President via letter no. SH/COS/42/3/3/A128 date April 22, 2022, and which would be expiring on April 24, 2023.
“Consequently, you are directed to hand over to the most senior Deputy Comptroller-General on or before Monday, April 24, 2023, pending Mr President’s appointment of a substantive Comptroller-General of the Service.
“The board is grateful to you for your immense contributions to the Nigeria Immigration Service and to the country and wishes you success in your future endeavours.”
But asked to clarify the matter, Aregbesola said: “It is Greek to me.”
The minister at the briefing disclosed that the council approved the granting of Nigerian citizenship to 385 foreign nationals.
He said while 317 persons will get citizenship by naturalisation, 68 will be conferred with citizenship by registration.
He said: “The Council today approved grant of Nigeria citizenship by naturalisation to 317 applicants and Nigerian citizenship by registration by registration to 68 applicants who have met all the constitutional and administrative requirements for the grant of the Nigerian citizenship.”