From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSO), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to extend the tenure of the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Alhaji Idri Dere.
The group frowned at the action of Dere for deliberately extending his tenure by embarking on a trip and aiming to return to the office after the expiration of his tenure.
Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo, Osun State on Monday, the coordinator, Centre for Public Accountability, Olufemi Lawson, the coordinator of The Osun Mastermind, Prof Wasiu Ali-Oyedokun, and the spokesperson of Transparency, and Accountability Group, Ayo Ologun, said that renewing the tenure of Dere will not only dampen the spirit of civil servants and limit their faith in professional development but will be tantamount to illegality and lack of accountability in the service to the nation.
The group had petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offenses Commission (ICPC), calling for the prosecution of Dere for allegedly planning to extend his tenure.
The group explained that the CG whose tenure is expected to end on April 24 had in a letter disclosed his intention to be away on a trip from 13th April to 25th April when there has not been any letter extending his tenure by the presidency.
“This is an act of corruption as the question arises as to what the CG is returning as on the 25th of April having exhausted his tenure by the 24th and on whose bill the expenses of the extra days) in office would be. Not that of the taxpayer’s money albeit illegally.
“We request that the president do not renew the tenure of the acting CG as it will be tantamount to non-sensitivity. The tenure and service of the Acting CG expired in April of 2022 and by extension lapsed by April of 2023.
“We trust that the president will not renew illegality and ensure that every dime spent after the acting CG would have been deemed off office be accounted for and actions are taken for self-imposition on the system,” the groups added.
The CSOs however threatened to approach the court of law to seek interpretations on whether the executive power of the CG is self-renewable without the consent or otherwise of the president or the rule guiding the civil service.