Nigerian Senate, Customs boss bicker over dress code

Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), on Thursday came under intense rebuke by the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise over his perpetual refusal to wear customs uniform since his appointment in 2015.

While throwing his weight behind the committee, Mr. Mohammed Bello, a former Comptroller-General of Customs during the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.), said Ali ought to be addressed as Sole Administrator of NCS, if he felt too big to wear uniform which he said was a reflection of his rank as head of the agency.

Ali was put on the spot at a session between the committee, NCS management, Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on an amendment to NCS bill that is currently before the committee. But in his defence, Ali said as a former military officer, it is against norms to wear uniform the second time.

But the committee dismissed his claim, reminding him about a retired General Halidu Hananiya who wore Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) uniform when he was appointed as Corp Marshall of the agency in the past.

But, Ali was swift to tell the committee that by wearing the second uniform, Hananiya erred.
Angered by the development, a member of the committee, Senator Obinna Ogba, walked out of the session, saying “this is how you people keep deceiving Nigerians on wrong action and still defending it.”

The committee also queried Ali over his refusal to constitute the board of NCS since 2015 when it was dissolved. According to the committee Chairman, Senator Hope Uzodimma, the decision of Ali’s leadership to unilaterally promote and sack customs officers which ought to be done by the board was illegal.

“You claim that the Minister of Finance is the one delaying the composition of the board. The committee has written a letter straight away to the Minister, Secretary to the Government and Attorney General of Federation to put the board in place without any further delay,” Uzodinma said.

Thisday, February 3, 2017

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