House of Representatives Summons Customs Comptroller-General Over Senior Officers' Refusal to Retire; Threatens Arrest of NIMC Director-General

 House of Representatives Summons Customs Comptroller-General Over Senior Officers' Refusal to Retire; Threatens Arrest of NIMC Director-General

In a decisive move to uphold public service regulations, the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has summoned the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, to appear before it on February 18, 2025. This action follows allegations that several senior customs officers have refused to retire despite reaching their mandatory retirement dates. 

Allegations of Overstaying Tenure

The Obasi-Pherson Help Foundation, a civil society organization, petitioned the House, alleging that certain Assistant Comptrollers and Comptrollers have deliberately overstayed their tenure in the NCS. The officers named in the petition include Assistant Comptrollers Imam, Umar, and Egwu, as well as Comptrollers Awe, Fatia, and Faith. 

The Chairman of the Committee on Public Petitions, Mike Etaba, emphasized the importance of accountability and transparency in public service. He stated, "Nigerians deserve to know the truth of the matter, and it is only the Comptroller-General who can clarify the situation. We are elected to serve the people, and ensuring that all government agencies function effectively is part of that service." 

Concerns Over Employment Opportunities

Etaba further highlighted the broader implications of senior officers refusing to retire, noting that such actions hinder employment opportunities for younger Nigerians. "In this era, when most of our youths are looking for jobs, it will be wrong for the older ones who are due for retirement to refuse to go," he remarked. 

Potential Breach of Contract at NIMC

In a related development, the Committee has threatened to order the arrest of the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Abisoye Coker-Odusote, if she fails to appear in person to respond to allegations of contract breaches. A private firm, Truid Limited, has accused NIMC of refusing to pay for a state-of-the-art software development project that the company installed and deployed for the commission. 

According to E.R. Opara, counsel for Truid Limited, the agreement involved Truid funding, developing, and deploying a tokenization system without any financial obligation from NIMC. Truid was to recoup its investment through service provider patronage, with proceeds shared on an agreed ratio over an initial period of ten years starting from 2021. The petition alleges that the agreement was proceeding smoothly until the appointment of the new NIMC Director-General, who has been attempting to terminate the arrangement. 

Committee's Stance on Non-Compliance

Expressing frustration over the NIMC Director-General's repeated absence despite multiple invitations, Chairman Etaba warned, "If she fails to show up at the next hearing of this case, we'll have no option than to ask the Inspector-General of Police to bring her. How can an official of government treat constituted authority with such levity? We can no longer condone such attitude." 

These actions by the House Committee underscore a renewed commitment to enforcing accountability and adherence to regulations within Nigeria's public institutions. The outcomes of these summonses and potential legal actions are anticipated to set significant precedents for public service conduct and governance in the country.