One of the five Deputy Controllers-General of Customs who reportedly voluntarily retired from Service last week, has opened up on the circumstances that led to their controversial exit. He told Shipping Position Daily exclusively that, contrary to the widely- circulated belief that they voluntarily exited from the service, he and his colleagues were ‘forced’ to resign.
One of the five Deputy Controllers-General of Customs who reportedly voluntarily retired from Service last week, has opened up on the circumstances that led to their controversial exit. He told Shipping Position Daily exclusively that, contrary to the widely- circulated belief that they voluntarily exited from the service, he and his colleagues were ‘forced’ to resign.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the ex-DCG confirmed that he and others had been under intense pressure since Col Hameed Ali (rtd) was appointed as the Comptroller General of Customs by President Muhammadu Buhari on August 27, 2015.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that, in a manner unprecedented in the history of the Nigeria Customs Service, the five DCGs jointly announced their resignation in a terse letter dated October 29, 2015 titled “Voluntary Retirement” and addressed to the Chairman of the Customs Board.
The letter was signed by: Atte, A.J, Musa T.A, Mera I.M, Nwosu A.C, and Adewuyi A.A.
In the letter which our source (the retired DCG) confirmed as borne out of provocation, the ex-DCGs wrote that:
“We the underlisted officers currently on the rank of Deputy Comptroller-General met today, 29 October 2015 and unanimously agreed to voluntarily retire from the service of the Nigerian Customs Service having risen to the privileged rank of Deputy Comptroller-General.
Although, no official reason was given for their action, the ex-DCG told one of our correspondents via the telephone that: “With due respect to the CG, it was difficult and humiliating working under him. We knew it would get to this, but we took the best option under the circumstances”.
He hinted that their (ex-DCGs) soft landing came after they had been subjected to all manners of humiliation, including being given assignments that were belittling to their ranks as DCGs.
The retired DCG said pointedly that, while it may be true that they didn’t like the approach of the Customs CG, it is absolutely untrue that, their resignation was in protest.
He added that all the affected senior management officers were scheduled to proceed on their annual leave between November and December, but added that their retirement was both pre-emptive and an ambush. “I confirm to you that our annual leave had been approved by the CG”.
It’s public service, we were working with him(CG), even though some of us had our doubts about the long term effect of the development for the Nigeria Customs Service”, he told Shipping Position Daily last Friday.
His disclosure coincided with the announcement of the retirement of another set of 28 senior officers, three of whom were of the rank of Assistant Comptroller General.
They are all expected to leave this week.
The affected ACGs are: Madu Mohammed, Secretary to the Nigeria Customs Board; Victor Gbemudu, Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘A’; and Bello Liman, Assistant Comptroller-General, (Headquarters).
The affected Comptrollers currently serve in Customs Headquarters, Zonal Offices and various Area Commands.
According to the statement which announced their retirement, the latest action was part of measures to kick-start the repositioning of the Service for improved performance.
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