The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has slammed President Bola Tinubu over his decision to extend the tenures of the heads of the Nigerian Correctional Service and the Nigeria Immigration Service by 18 months, warning that the move could undermine career progression, weaken institutional discipline and fuel suspicions of nepotism.
HURIWA said the government had no justification for retaining serving chiefs beyond their scheduled exit dates when qualified officers within the services could take over, describing repeated tenure extensions as a threat to innovation and orderly succession.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, the rights group insisted that public institutions must not revolve around individual officeholders at the expense of established rules and the ambitions of other qualified personnel.
The association was reacting to Tinubu’s approval of an 18-month extension for the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nanna Nandap.
Under the arrangement, Nwakuche will remain in office until May 26, 2028, while Nandap’s tenure will run until June 30, 2028.
The Presidency said the extensions followed a recommendation by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to address a succession gap and give the governing boards of the two agencies time to appoint successors.
But HURIWA questioned why the government had failed to put adequate succession arrangements in place before the officers’ tenures expired.
The group argued that allowing incumbents to remain in office beyond their scheduled exit dates could frustrate senior officers who have spent years working towards promotion and leadership positions.
“No officer is indispensable,” HURIWA maintained, warning that prolonged tenure extensions could send the wrong signal to personnel who expect appointments and promotions to follow transparent rules.
The association urged the Interior Minister to identify qualified successors within the services and ensure that leadership transitions take place without unnecessary delays.
It added that if suitable replacements could not be found internally, the government should explore lawful interim arrangements, including the deployment of qualified professional military officers where permitted by law, pending the appointment of substantive heads.
HURIWA also expressed concern that repeated extensions across security and paramilitary institutions under the Tinubu administration could deepen public suspicions of favouritism and nepotism.
The group, however, called for transparency in the decisions rather than presenting the allegations as established facts, urging the Presidency to explain the legal basis for the extensions and demonstrate that they comply with the regulations governing the affected agencies.
It warned that retaining serving chiefs beyond their established tenures could weaken succession planning, discourage innovation and create uncertainty over the career prospects of other senior officers.
HURIWA called on the Federal Government to prioritise institutional development over individual officeholders, insisting that effective leadership depends on clear rules, merit-based appointments and predictable transitions.
The association said the government must demonstrate that public appointments are guided by institutional needs and national interest, not arrangements that could be perceived as favouring particular individuals.