Tinubu Extends Tenures Of Correctional And Immigration Service Chiefs By 18 Months

Tinubu Extends Tenures of Correctional and Immigration Service Chiefs by 18 Months President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved an 18-month extension of the tenures of the heads of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), allowing both officials to remain in office until 2028.

The extension covers Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, and Kemi Nanna Nandap, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service. The Presidency announced the decision in a statement issued on Monday, October 19, by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. Under the approval, Nwakuche’s tenure will now end on May 26, 2028, while Nandap’s tenure will end on June 30, 2028. The extensions followed a recommendation by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to address succession gaps in the two agencies and provide their respective boards with sufficient time to appoint successors. According to the Presidency, the decision is intended to ensure continuity in the leadership of both services while arrangements for the appointment of new heads are completed. President Tinubu commended Nwakuche and Nandap for the reforms recorded under their leadership and urged them to consolidate the gains made by their respective agencies. The President called on both officials to sustain their efforts to improve service delivery and strengthen the operations of the correctional and immigration services. The Nigerian Correctional Service is responsible for managing custodial facilities, implementing rehabilitation programmes and overseeing the safe custody of inmates. The Nigeria Immigration Service is responsible for border management, migration control, passport administration and enforcement of immigration laws. Tinubu nominated Nwakuche as Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service in December 2024, and the Senate confirmed his appointment in March 2025. Nandap was nominated as Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service on February 21, 2024, and her appointment was confirmed by the Senate on March 1, 2024. The latest approval extends their periods in office beyond the previously expected end dates. The Presidency said the extensions would give the relevant boards additional time to complete the process of selecting successors without creating leadership gaps. The development comes as both agencies continue to carry out their statutory responsibilities in national security, border control, custodial management and public service delivery. With the new dates, Nwakuche and Nandap are expected to remain at the helm of their respective services until May and June 2028, respectively, subject to the terms of the presidential approval.