NIS Comptroller General: A Worthy Successor On The Way – Says FG

The Federal Government has said that work is in progress to ensure a worthy successor is found to head the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS.

Naija News reports that NIS Comptroller General, Muhammad Babandede, retired on Friday after spending 36 years in service.

A Deputy Comptroller General saddled with the Finance and Account of the service, Idris Isah Jere, was made to take over in an acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive CG by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In his address during the pulling out parade of the 16th Comptroller-General of Immigration at the NIS Headquarters parade ground in Abuja on Monday, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said that the Federal Government is working to ensure a worthy successor is found to head the service.

According to him, transparency and due process are of the essence to ensure that the transformational gains recorded under the leadership of Babandede, are well sustained and built upon.

Representing President Muhammadu Buhari in person at the occasion, Aregbesola lauded Babandede’s achievements, saying he remains one of Nigeria’s finest immigration officers because of the unprecedented transformation he has brought to the service.

He commended the outgone CG for making Nigeria a country of worth internationally and the only African country that can meet the international requirement of uploading data of missing and stolen international passports on the INTERPOL system.

The Minister said though some projects started by the retired comptroller-general were still uncompleted, but that they would be continued by the incoming head.

Aregbesola said no human completes a project. He again praised Babandede for making his job as a minister less challenging.

He said: “His tenure is the most remarkable in the annals of the NIS because, under him, the NIS has consistently published a yearly report, built the technology building, which is a repository for all data on land, air, water and all borders of Nigeria and developed a border management manual, among others.

“The process of selecting the new CG is not arbitrary. It is following a due process and that is why somebody is standing in for that process to be completed. We must commend the President for allowing due process and not just arbitrary impunity.

“He is the first CG to be ceremoniously pulled out because he has written his name in gold through his numerous reforms and giant efforts.”

In his last formal appearance, the retiring CG urged the NIS to sustain the gains of his tenure. He said he left the NIS better than he met it, but promised that though he is now retired, he would be ready to offer advice when called upon by the Service and his nation.