The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) has approved the appointment of six acting Deputy Comptrollers-General of Customs in the ongoing reorganisation in the Service.
The six officers, who are of the rank of Assistant Comptroller-General, will occupy the positions of Deputy-Comptrollers-General in acting capacity. Those appointed are:
- ACG Idris Suleiman (Finance Administration and Technical Service)
- ACG Iya Umar (Tariff and Trade)
- ACG Dan Ugo (Enforcement Investigation and Inspection)
- ACG Grace Adeyemo (Excise, FTZ & Industrial Incentive)
- ACG Austin Warikoru (Human Resource Development)
- ACG Paul Ukaigwe (Strategic Research and Policy)
Eight Comptrollers were similarly announced to occupy the positions of Assistant Comptrollers-General created in the exercise.
They are to occupy the new offices in acting capacity. They are:
- Comptroller Umar Sanusi (ACG Headquarters)
- Comptroller Funsho Adegoke (ACG ICT)
- Comptroller Mohammed Abbas (ACG Board)
- Comptroller Olatunji Aremu (Command & Staff College)
- Comptroller Charles Edike (Zonal Coordinator Zone ‘A’)
- Comptroller Abubakar Dangaladima (Zonal Coordinator Zone ‘B’)
- Comptroller Azarema Abdulkadir (Zonal Coordinator Zone ‘C’)
- Comptroller Chidi Augustine (Zonal Coordinator Zone ‘D’)
Seven Officers are equally redeployed in the new exercise. They are:
- ACG Adesina Odunmbaku (Finance and Technical Service)
- ACG Robert Alu (Tariff and Trade)
- ACG Ade Dosumu (Enforcement and Drugs)
- ACG Monday Abueh (Excise & Industrial Incentive)
- ACG Ahmed Mohammed (Human Resource Management)
- ACG Patience Iferi (Strategic Research and Policy) and
- Comptroller Aminu Abba (Technical Services)
The changes take immediate effect.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali urged the newly – appointed Officers to redouble their efforts to justify their new responsibilities.
Meanwhile, Area Controllers in charge of Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ Lagos, Amade Abdul; and Seme Border Command, Garba Ndalati, and former Controllers, Apapa Area Command, Adamu Yusuf Garko and Oyo/Osun Command, Richard Oteri were among senior officers forcefully retired by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Friday last week.
The NCS had announced the compulsory retirement of 34 senior officers from the Service “with immediate effect”.
A copy of the list of affected officers obtained exclusively listed other affected officers on the rank of comptrollers as Kuffi D.G, Kuhyi B.B, Oshomah N.O, Mundu H.M,Maina A.T.S, Bawa M.S, Bello O.R, Adesanya K.O,Maitama K.I, Olawuwo J.O , Ibrahim M, Ochiba P.A, Lecg- Jack A.E, Okala A.P, Buba I, Olonilua M.A, Ayah S.T, Ogah D.F.A and Kolo H.N, Kaugama S.S,Usman U.B, Akor T, Mosuro A.A and Muhammed K.
The list showed that all the affected officers had less than a year to their mandatory retirement based on age – 60 years, or length of service – 35 years.
Customs spokesman, Wale Adeniyi, said the retirement was part of ongoing reorganization in the NCS.
“The reorganization of the Service is one of the core mandates of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd).
“Those affected in the exercise are five Deputy Comptrollers-General of Customs (DCGs) who have earlier given notification to the Comptroller-General for voluntary disengagement. They are John Atte MFR, Ibrahim Mera OON, Musa Tahir mni, Austin Nwosu and Akinade Adewuyi.
“Three others, of the rank of Assistant Comptroller-General are also affected in the reorganization exercise. They are Madu Mohammed mni, Secretary to the Nigeria Customs Board, Victor Gbemudu, Zonal Coordinator Zone ‘A’ and Bello Liman, Assistant Comptroller-General, (Headquarters).
“The rest are of the rank of Comptrollers serving in Customs Headquarters, Zonal Offices and various Area Commands.
“The Comptroller-General of Customs stated that the retirements were part of measures to kick-start the repositioning of the Service for improved performance,” Adeniyi said.
There were indications on Monday that the “reorganization” may see more officers relieved of their duties.
Usually reliable sources said that no fewer than 400 officers might soon be shown the way out of the Service.
The affected officers, it was gathered were those who have been involved in corrupt practices, indiscipline, flouting of redeployment directive and those who have been given undue advantage during promotions. However, the Customs Comptroller-General has debunked the report that more officers would be sacked.
By Pita Ochai