CIGG cautions FG against tenure extension for CG Customs Service

By Tunde Opalana, Abuja

A civil society group, Citizen Initiative for Good Governance (CIGG), has cautioned the Federal Government against extending the tenure of the current management team of the Nigerian Customs led by Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

The group alleged that lobbying have commenced by interested officers in the service to replace Adeniyi at the expiration if his tenure.

Adeyemi Akande, National Convener, Citizen Initiative for Good Governance raised this concern in a statement yesterday.

The CIGG alleged that there is scheming within the Customs Service involving senior officers lobbying for what was described as illegal tenure extensions, causing unrest and blocking career progression of younger officers.

The group said it is aware of the illegal tenure elongation for seven officers through the backdoor without recourse to the Board.

The illegal tenure elongation for seven officers through the backdoor without recourse to the Board.

The CIGG claimed that the seven officers are being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for fraud allegations in different parts of the country.

The group contend that extending retired officers tenure “will perpetuates corruption, promote mediocrity instead of merit and violates civil service rules.

The CIGG calls for urgent measures including addressing age falsification within the service, closing all operational loopholes.

It urged the Federal Government, to conduct a forensic audit, setting up an Auction Committee to investigate the moribund costly platforms like well from tail, which was initially retained by Hameed Ali and was later acquired by Hameed Ali and his cronies.

extending retired officers tenure “will perpetuates corruption, promote mediocrity instead of merit and violates civil service rules

It called for an investigate into the Odogwu Platform, the rationale behind the establishment of a Customs University, Badagary, Lagos instead of equipping and developing the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College(NCCSC), Gwagwalada-Abuja.

The group charged the National Assembly to be more efficient in its oversight function of the NCS.