A big scandal is rocking the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS over retirement of officers due for retirement at the Abuja headquarters of the paramilitary agency.
Sources told this paper that many Deputy Comptroller Generals DCGs, Assistant Comptroller Generals, ACGs, Comptrollers and Deputy Comptrollers who were billed to retire and have finished their terminal leave have refused to vacate their offices.
Instead, they now resume duties daily with the excuse that they are waiting for extension of their service years from the Aso Rock Villa.
Documents showed that 17 officers ought to have retired in October while 19 should have gone last month. At least, three ACGs and two Comptrollers (names withheld) have retired but allegedly refused to leave office even though their salaries have been stopped.
The sit tight officers now report to work in mufti, creating an awkward situation at the NCS headquarters.
Said a worried source: “This is unheard of in the scheme of public service. The implication of the officials failing to vacate their offices after retirement can be severe. It creates confusion and disrupts the normal functioning of the organisation.”
This paper learnt that consequent upon their refusal to retire and go away, newly promoted officers have been unable to take over their new roles.
Another source said that the situation has raised questions about the leadership and management of the NCS. The Customs Board is non-existent. And the Comptroller-General, Mr. Bashir Wale Adeniyi, lacks the authority to retire or promote certain level of officers without the approval of the board.
Insiders are worried that and have linked this crisis to corruption and the influence of retired officers in the NCS. There have been allegations that some retired officers have amassed significant wealth and influence, which they continue to wield even after retirement.
Those who spoke to this paper on condition of anonymity said the failure of retired officers to vacate their offices has significant implications for the organisation, its leadership and the country as a whole. Thus, they have cried out that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not extend the tenure of retired customs officers for several reasons.
A source said service extension for the officers could undermine meritocracy as younger officers will be denied opportunities for growth and advancement.
But more importantly, a source said their refusal to go is contrary to the laws governing retirement in the civil service, especially the Nigeria Customs Act 2023 and the Civil Service Rules on employment, age and retirement.
