The Acting Comptroller General of Immigration, Carol Adepoju Wura-Ola, is slated to have her tenure extended by another six months, according to the Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Rule of Law and Justice (CCSORLJ), a group of 15 CSOs in Nigeria. They have warned that this is a complete violation of the Nigerian civil service rule.
The coalition expressed dismay over the proposed extension, calling it illegal and a break from just principles.
The Convener of the Coalition, Nwogu Ndubisi, stated during a media roundtable on Thursday that “the Acting Comptroller General Immigration has officially retired from the immigration service since May 31st 2023 and that the Immigration Act does not give room for retired personnel or those who are not in the Service to head its operations.”
The head of CCSORLJ reported that Mrs. Wura-Ola had left the Immigration Service as of May 31.
He stated, “We were especially startled when she was nominated to serve as the Comptroller General in temporary capacity for three months, which we even believe to be unlawful given the fact that there are eminently capable officers remaining in service. She can only serve as Comptroller General for three months because the deed has already been completed. Anything else from the board or the president would be against the law.
“Any extension is like extending the retirement age of someone in service, which is not possible except the public service rule is changed.”
Nwogu warned that if this is allowed, it will set a bad precedence and that the coalition will take all lawful action to stop the illegality.
He advised the Acting Comptroller to tow the path of honour, take a bow and quit the stage by the end of August 2023.
“Recall that President Bola Tinubu had appointed Carol Wuraola Adepoju as the Acting Comptroller General on the 31st of May, the day she retired may be because he was not properly briefed on her retirement status, but what puzzles us now is the proposed fresh six months extension after she had earlier been granted three months within which to enable the Ministry to pick a substantive Comptroller General.
“If she could not hold the Service in three months post retirement, what will she be able to achieve in 6 months. This move by those at the corridors of power leaves more to be desired. That is why Mr President has to know what some of his lieutenants are not telling him,” Nwogu said.