Disquiet as extended tenures given heads of Civil Defence, Immigration, Prisons end
There is palpable uncertainty as the extended tenures of some heads of paramilitary agencies in Nigeria end in a short time.
The chiefs of the outfits, under the Ministry of Interior, have exceeded mandatory ages and years of service, just like the Nigerian Military Service Chiefs.
They are Controller-General, Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Jaafaru Ahmed; Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede; Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Muhammadu Gana.
In 2019, Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, extended their terms by six months.
PRNigeria reports that the minister is believed to be planning to recommend a further extension, a situation that has caused disquiet and tension.
Aregbesola is Chairman of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB).
NCoS: President Muhammadu Buhari initially gave Ahmed the nod to continue in office from July 21, 2019 to July 21, 2020. The CG, who clocked 60 years in 2019, and mandatory 35 years of service in 2020, was retained by Aregbesola. His incumbency expires on January 21, 2021.
Born in Birnin Kebbi, he obtained B.A. (Hons) in History from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria in 1984 and was employed as an Education Officer at the Sokoto Ministry of Education in October 1985.
He joined the Nigeria Prisons Service (now NCoS) in 1989 as a Superintendent of Prisons. Ahmed became an Assistant Comptroller-General of Prisons in 2008 and was appointed Comptroller-General on May 17, 2016.
NSCDC: Buhari appointed Gana as the second substantive Commandant-General in July 2015. His tenure expired in July 2020 and was granted a six-month extension which ends this month.
Gana was born in Lapai, Niger State. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from the University of Sokoto (now Usman Dan Fodio University) in 1986, and a Master’s degree in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice from the ABU.
The CG worked in the private sector for over a decade before joining the NSCDC in 2000.
NIS: Babandede is from Jigawa State. The Comptroller-General is the longest-serving officer of the agency. He joined the service in June 1985 and has spent 35 years.
The CG holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Islamic Studies, and a Master’s degree in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice also from the ABU.
