FIJ
Contrary to the public service rules (PSR), President Bola Tinubu and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) under Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adeniyi have extended the service years of 12 top officers who are already due for retirement, FIJ can report.
Some of the beneficiaries of this extension are Michael Awe, the comptroller of the Murtala Muhammed Cargo Command; Baba Imam, an assistant comptroller of customs and secretary to the NCS Board; Kayode Kolade, the comptroller of Seme Area Command; and Umar Isah Gusau, Assistant Comptroller of Customs. They were due to have proceeded on their compulsory three months pre-retirement leave as dictated by the PSR.
This extension will last a year, disquieting the rank-and-file of the NCS and impeding the career progression of those who could have stepped into the roles of the affected officers.
“I write on behalf of the Comptroller General of Customs and Vice Chairman of Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB), Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR to convey the approval of Extension of your Service by Mr. President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR vide Ref, PRES/81/SGF/154/114/NCS/4 dated 5th December, 2024,” Imam, one of the retained officers, wrote in a letter directed to Awe, dated December 12.
“The Extension period approved is twelve (12) months from the date of your supposed retirement.
“By this Extension, while the CGC congratulates you, you are expected to bring your invaluable wealth of experience and professional expertise to bear on the policy thrust of the CGC and for the growth and development of the Service and the Nation.”
Their secret retention potentially signals the extension of service years of the Customs boss, whose 35th year as a Customs officer statutorily ends next month. Although Tinubu had said his tenure would be guided by the “extant provisions of the Public Service Rules (PSR)”, there are concerns that this may not be so.
The concerns stem from a development Tinubu controversially engineered recently by extending the tenure of Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun by allowing the National Assembly to amend the Nigeria Police Act to legitimise the extension for a period of four years. Had it not been for this amendment, the IGP would have retired upon attaining the retirement age of 60 years recognised by the PSR.
DEMORALISATION, DRAMA IN THE NCS
FIJ understands that in the NCS, like in other federal agencies, employees retire either by virtue of age or years of service. This exception created by the Adeniyi-led NCS has therefore spawned unease among all the strata of the land border authorities.
In preparation for his retirement, for instance, Awe had already handed over to the most senior officer at his command and was awaiting a send-off party by his colleagues. But before then, travelled to Abuja, only to return and announce that he remained the command’s head so the party should be put on hold.
“Awe ceased being a customs officer on November 27. On the same day, he handed over to the most senior deputy comptroller at the Murtala Muhammed Cargo Command pending when a substantive appointment would be made,” a source whose name is withheld told FIJ on Saturday.
“He then travelled to Abuja and returned to announce that he remained the head of the command to the consternation of the officers who were already planning a send-off ceremony to be held on November 30 for him.
“In shock, everybody started looking at the next person with a side eye because it goes against the public service rules and Nigeria Customs Service Act. Nobody, not even the president, has the right to do that except the National Assembly tweaks the law.
“Nobody is lawfully allowed to experience their retirement leave on duty. What our findings showed was that these people are the henchmen of the comptroller general. And this is like a decision made by a few people to stagnate the careers of others while abusing Nigeria’s constitution.”
This means a lot of demoralisation to many customs officers.
“Comptroller Kolade is finishing his retirement leave in January. By January 2, the comptroller general would have spent 35 years in service and would have been due to retire,” the source said.
“So, if they are breaking the law for his lieutenants, then his own overstay or approval for his extension would be a walk in the park.
“There is a lot of anger in the service as we speak and officers don’t know how to vent it. By now, the law deems those people as non-Customs officers and are not expected to sign or authorise any action at any level of the NCS.
“They have already perpetrated illegalities for the last 90 days when they were supposed to have embarked on their leave and they have been directed to continue to act out those illegalities for another 12 months.”
VIOLATED SERVICE RULES
It is not a matter of choice but of rules in Customs that any retiring official must embark on pre-retirement leave. This is so to enable a seamless transfer of duties. In this regard, the following provisions of the PSR apply.
“Officers are required to give three months notice to retire from service before the effective date of retirement. At the commencement of three months, officers should proceed immediately on the mandatory one-month pre-retirement workshop/seminar. For the remaining two months, retiring officers are expected to take necessary measures to put their records straight so as to facilitate the speedy processing of their retirement benefits,” rule 100238 states.
Where an officer overstays their service year, the PSR rules state that an officer who remains in office after the effective date of retirement shall be deemed to have vacated office and shall not be entitled to any emoluments or benefits.
The same rulebook specifies some penalties for any defaulting employee, depending on the circumstances of their overstay and the discretion of the customs leadership. These punishments include forfeiture of benefits for the period of…
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