RUMBLINGS IN CUSTOMS •

•         Says Customs Redeploy, Post Dead And Retired Officers   
 
The recent deployment and routine posting exercises that were  carried out by the management of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has  ruffled the feather of some Customs officers, who are alleging that names of retired and dead officer of the service were included in the list of officers redeployed.
.

•         Says Customs Redeploy, Post Dead And Retired Officers   
 
The recent deployment and routine posting exercises that were  carried out by the management of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has  ruffled the feather of some Customs officers, who are alleging that names of retired and dead officer of the service were included in the list of officers redeployed.
.
In an unsigned statement issued by some officers at the Tin Can Island Port Command of the service who were opposed to the recent posting exercise, it was alleged that the routine exercise was used to punish officers who are not in the good books of the Comptroller General of the service.
 
It was alleged that officers who have barely spent one year in n area Command were moved out without being paid the statutory  allowance for 28 days which enables officers to settle down to their postings.
 
One of the aggrieved officer who spoke to our correspondent said, “we do not know what we have done to the ‘Oga’  (Comptroller-General ) after all we have exceed our monthly revenue target, how can the Comptroller General be separating us from our families every six months?”
Part of the unsigned statement which was made available to our correspondent read: “In the just released movement transfer, dead and retired officers were affected. “In August, 2013, more than 212 officer and 364 officers were moved from Apapa and Tin Can Island ports respectively while other commands were not affected in any way”
 
But, while reacting to the allegations, Customs spokesman Mr. Adewale Adeniyi said that the posting in the Customs is a routine exercise that occurs from time to time.
He explained that the affected officers who were transferred from Tin-Can to Apapa command are the only ones complaining about the postings.
 
He however warned officers to desist from politicising postings carried out by management, adding that every directive emanating from the office of the Comptroller-General should be adhere to.
He further explained that such routine postings should not be seen as punishment adding the transfer of officers could affect anybody at any time.
“Are we in Abuja serving any form of punishment, are the officers in Bauchi who are facing the real threat of Boko Haram serving punishment” he queried  
Also in a swift reaction, the Public Relation officer of the Tin Can Command of the Service; Mr. Chris Osunkwo said that the report that officers of the Command are daring the Comptroller-General to reduce staff strength of the Command was a baseless threat.
Osunkwo stated the Command is very aware of the enormity of the powers of the Comptroller-General of Customs, adding that no sane and disciplined officer will regard the CG’s directive as an empty threat.
He said, “ since his assumption of office, the CGC has not been known for frivolities and has never acted on impulse as he is an officer that knows what is good for the Service and the economy and would go ahead to implement it without minding whose ox is gored.
“That the it s an act of mischief for anybody to say that he’s playing to the gallery to remain in office’
“We want to state clearly here that the CGC got to where he is presently by merit and not by lobby and therefore cannot ‘play to the gallery to remain in office’