For the umpteenth time last week, anxiety heightened over the future of Alhaji Diko Inde Abdulahi as the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, amidst speculations that he may have been told to temporarily prepare his handover notes.
Shipping Position Daily confirmed from insider sources that, while it is true that Dikko’s current tenure expires on August 17, 2013, having been appointed by late President Umar Yar’ Adua in 2009.
However, last week speculations were rife that a replacement is being sought for him by the Presidency.
For the umpteenth time last week, anxiety heightened over the future of Alhaji Diko Inde Abdulahi as the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, amidst speculations that he may have been told to temporarily prepare his handover notes.
Shipping Position Daily confirmed from insider sources that, while it is true that Dikko’s current tenure expires on August 17, 2013, having been appointed by late President Umar Yar’ Adua in 2009.
However, last week speculations were rife that a replacement is being sought for him by the Presidency.
Among the Customs boss’ ‘many sins’ are his alleged friction with the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala over the recently-passed Nigeria Customs Service Bill, the controversy over the contract of the destination inspection service providers and the equally controversial Single Window contract.
Sources from within the Customs and at the supervisory ministry of finance told Shipping Position Daily that while it is true that his tenure may end in August, he is still the Comptroller General of Customs.
A source, who is a retired senior officer of the Customs, told our correspondent last week that, the content of the Customs Bill actually hurt the authourities of the Minister of Finance and the Presidency.
“There were some sections of the Bill that didn’t help the Comptroller General, they portrayed him in a manner that seems ambitious, but it was in the interest of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Minister will certainly not take kindly to anything that will erode the ministry’s powers over the board and the Customs. Again, the original composition of the board which would have given the Customs an overriding majority was perceived as unsatisfactory”, he told our correspondent.
The Bill that was passed on June 4, 2013 actually pruned down the powers of the Customs boss and also retained the number of Deputies Comptroller General to three.
Apart from this, it was also disclosed that the incumbent Customs boss is perceived as not favourably disposed to the position of some powerful individuals in the implementation of the ‘Single Window’ project, which the Customs effectively snatched from a private sector group that was earlier given the contract.
“Believe me, the project is coming back to the private sector, there are plans to exclude the Customs from its execution”, a source at the ministry of finance confirmed last week.
Even though no one wants to admit it openly, the December 2012 extension of the contract of the three destination service providers has also put a wedge in the relationship between the Customs boss and the Minister of finance.
The contract which was extended in December last year has again been extended by another six months.
However, when contacted, the public relations officer of Customs; Mr Wale Adeniyi told our correspondent on Friday that there is no truth in the speculations and that the CG of Customs is on his seat.
Speaking in the same vein, the Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Tariff and Trade; Mr Julius Nwagwu said that, even though the Customs boss was appointed in August 2009, the appointment is not tenured.
“The appointment of the CG of Customs is not tenured, he can be there for four, five or 10 years, he is a civil servant who is eligible to serve for 35 years or will have to retire from service upon attaining the age of 60 years, you will agree with me that, he is not close to either of the two”, he told our correspondent.
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