From Olu Samuel, Lokoja
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise, Hon Leke Joseph Abejide, has dismissed claims that the purported appointment of Deputy Comptroller I.D Olorunfemi as the next Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service would result in the forced retirement of senior officers.
Abejides said that all retirements within the service are governed strictly by extant Public Service Rules.
Abejide, who represents Yagba East/Yagba West/Mopamuro Federal Constituency of Kogi State in the House of Representatives, made the clarification on Sunday in a statement made available to newsmen in Lokoja.
Reacting to a publication by an online medium (not Daily NewsCraft), he described the news as misinformation allegedly circulated by a junior officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
According to the lawmaker, the Public Service Rules clearly stipulate retirement after 35 years in service or attainment of 60 years of age, stressing that retirement under such circumstances is neither discretionary nor targeted at any individual.
“The Civil Service Rules are very clear. Retirement after 35 years in service or at the age of 60 is not by compulsion; it is by law. Therefore, suggestions that any officer would be retired to create room for another appointment are false and misleading,” he said.
Abejide further explained that the NCS is currently dealing with a unique personnel structure resulting from a prolonged recruitment gap spanning 16 years.
He noted that the absence of recruitment during that period created a significant generational vacuum within the service, leaving a large number of officers within the same rank bracket and seniority level retiring at same time.
“There is a 16-year gap of non-recruitment and stagnant promotion. As a result, officers of 41000, 42000 and 43000 service numbers categories have risen through the ranks almost simultaneously and now occupy similar levels of seniority.
“This has created a situation where the upper cadre of the service is heavily populated, while the lower levels remain comparatively thin. By September, 95% of these officers will have exited the service in line with statutory retirement provisions,” he explained.
The lawmaker also denied allegations of any familial or personal relationship with the incoming Customs chief, describing such claims as entirely unfounded.
“I have no relationship whatsoever with the person appointed by Mr. President to succeed the current Comptroller-General. As a matter of fact, I only got to know him this year. I do not know his parents, and he has never been close to me in any capacity,” Abejide stated.
He maintained that the appointment process was lawful and consistent with the need to address the leadership transition challenges facing the Nigeria Customs Service while preserving institutional continuity.
”No forced retirement of officers, no senior officer bypassed, Olorunfemi’s purported appointment as customs comptroller general –because no official announcement yet–after Adeniyi’s six-month transitional tenure is lawful. It closes 16-year gap without further extension. While over 1,500 officers from sets 4100 to 43000 retire statutorily under Public Service Rules (PSR) 100238. Claims of family ties false,” he declared.