The Citizen Initiative for Good Governance (CIGG), a civil society group, has strongly opposed any tenure extension for the current Nigerian Customs management team led by Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
The group in a statement signed by its National Convener, Comrade Adeyemi Akande, in Abuja, argued that such extension will encourage corruption and worsen revenue leakages, citing alleged loopholes created by the current leadership at borders and terminals that have led to significant revenue losses and compromised operations, including questionable handling of seized containers and auctioned goods like vehicles and rice.
The group also accused the leadership of promoting officers based on bribery rather than merit and claimed the Comptroller-General of Customs was politically installed instead of appointing competent hands and he has function more as a public relations figure than an effective administrator.
Additionally, there is controversy within the Customs Service involving senior officers lobbying for illegal tenure extensions, causing unrest and blocking career progression of younger officers. The group said they are aware of the illegal tenure elongation for seven (7) through the backdoor without recourse to the Board.
The seven officers are said to be regular customers to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) owing to fraud allegations in different parts of the country.
The group contend that extending retired officers tenure will perpetuates corruption, promote mediocrity instead of merit and violates civil service rules.
CIGG calls for urgent measures including addressing age falsification within the service, closing all operational loopholes, urging the Federal Government to conduct a forensic audit, setting up an Auction Committee.
Investigate the moribund costly platforms like well from tail, which was initially retained by Hameed Ali and was later acquired by Hameed Ali and his cronies.
The group also call on the Federal government to investigate the none- existing and none performing Odogwu Platform set up by the current CGC and his corrupt allies. All these platforms have promoted and supported atrocities within the system.
“We urge Federal government to investigate the rationale behind the establishment of a Customs University, Badagary, Lagos instead of equipping and developing the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College(NCCSC), Gwagwalada-Abuja. How much (public fund) is committed to the said University?
“National Assembly oversight function is lacking, as the leadership are always frustrating genuine efforts at; “WHAT WILL BRING REVENUE TO CUSTOMS” and extension the Federation account doesn’t concern the Leadership of the NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.
“We also demand investigation to Water patrol and modern jetties, Marine jetties, Marine bases and Marine equipment.
