Maritime sector stakeholders, especially freight forwarding associations, have rallied round the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali (rtd) in his face-off with the Senate, They argued that it is not important for the Customs boss to wear uniforms.
The operators equally cautioned the National Assembly to leave Col. Ali alone and devote attention to more pressing issues.
Their position is coming on the heels of the lingering face-off between the National Assembly and the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hammed Ali over appearance before it in Customs uniform.
Speaking in separate interviews with Shipping Position Daily, the freight forwarders argued that the uniform of the CG does not affect the mandate given tohim by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Leading the argument, founder of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Dr. Boniface Aniebonam argued that "the powers of Mr. President is very clear, in section 171 of the Nigerian Constitution. It talks about power of the President to appoint heads of government, and some of his powers have been given to Hameed Ali to go and restructure, reform and enhance revenue in customs operations"
"Whether he wears uniforms or not, it is not very important now" he argued.
Also speaking with our correspondent, President of Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN); Dr. Frank Ukor appealed to the Senate to give the customs CG a chance to focus on his mandates.
Ukor argued that wearing uniforms would not add or subtract from that mandate or make him achieve less.
"It is very simple, I remember when I was in the seminary, they told us that “it is not the hood that makes the monk”, in order words, it is not the uniform that makes the CG, whether he wears uniform or not, it is not important"
"The important thing is what he is here to achieve. When the CG came, he said he has his mandate from the Presidency and he is working hard to achieve these mandates, so they should give him a chance to achieve his mandates" he said
On his part, a member of ANLCA at PTML Terminal; Olologun Andrew Ogwi, maintained that wearing uniform does not make someone efficient or inefficient , that even the uniform and the rank is intended to harass Nigerians.
“Ali is on a political appointment, so the uniform doesn’t matter. It is the talent that does the job and not the uniform"
"The law makers are just creating problems where there are not supposed to be problem. Instead of them coming together, searching the books ask some experts around the world to see how they will advise the government to boast our economy, they are trying to cast down this man so that they will carry on their evil intention in the ports"
"When Col Ali was in active service, in the army, he was not wearing uniform. So now he is in the paramilitary on appointment and you are compelling him to wear uniform. You want to ridicule the man with the appointment"
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