Customs deny flouting retirement laws
The Nigeria Customs Service has dismissed claims by civil society group, Societal Safety Network, that some senior officers of the service were violating retirement procedures by refusing to proceed on mandatory terminal leave as baseless.
The group at a press briefing held in Abuja on Thursday alleged that some officers were deliberately disregarding provisions of the 2023 Customs Act and civil service rules, raising concerns about leadership oversight and organizational integrity within the service.
The SSN’s spokesman, Sunday Asuku, expressed alarm over the alleged non-compliance, warning that the situation could escalate into a scandal capable of damaging the NCS’s reputation.
Asuku urged President Bola Tinubu to take decisive action to address the issue, ensure strict adherence to retirement laws, and uphold meritocracy within the service.
Asuku said, “The refusal of senior officers due for retirement to vacate their offices disrupts the organizational structure of the NCS.
“It blocks newly promoted officers from assuming their roles and hampers the recruitment of new personnel. This is especially concerning at a time when the Tinubu administration is focused on reducing youth unemployment in Nigeria.”
The group praised recent reforms under the leadership of the Comptroller-General but noted that these gains could be undermined if the alleged violations were not swiftly addressed.
Reacting to the allegations, the spokesperson for the NCS, Abubakar Maiwada, dismissed the claims as baseless.
“They are just trying to be excessively proactive. Nothing of such is happening in the service.
“I am currently in the office, and I haven’t seen any officer who is supposed to be retired still on seat,” Maiwada said.
The SSN maintained that ignoring the issue could result in long-term disruptions and damage the reputation of the service.
“This is a brewing scandal, and if not addressed promptly, it will tarnish the image of the NCS,” Asuku warned.
