…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.”
Source: Sun
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