There is confusion among stakeholders in the shipping industry in Nigeria on whether or not to appoint a new Comptroller General for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
Ships & Ports Daily, a maritime newspaper, had reported on Tuesday that the Federal Government had clarified and ready to announce the appointment of M. Mohammed, assistant controller general of Customs as the new Customs chief to replace Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko
However, Ships And Ports wrote, “Any moment from now, the Federal Government will formally announce the appointment of Yobe State born M. Mohammed as the new Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), SHIPS & PORTS DAILY can authoritatively report”.
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), in a press statement endorsed by Prince Obums Anene, head of Special Duties (NAGAFF) Headquarters, said that the civil service rule and tenureship of persons in the Public Sector cannot be changed because of an individual.
“Tenureship of civil Servants are 35 years in service and/or 60years of age unless if a person have served in a position of Director for 8 years. Aside from these rules, it is only the President of the Federation that can determine those that can manage his delegated powers to act on his behalf. The most important thing is that it is only God that decides who wears the Crown.
“It is the view of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) that Interested parties should lobby Mr. President as an Angel of God on Earth to offer them the position of CGC without distracting government programmes and activities” the statement read.
In spite Ships and Ports had revealed that, “a sources at the Presidency informed that Mohammed, who is presently one of the about a dozen Assistant Comptrollers-General in the Service, will be succeeding Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi, who attained four years in office as Comptroller-General of Customs on Sunday, August 18, 2013, NAGAFF said, “At the moment, we have only one CGC who has been hoisting the Flag of Nigeria both at Local and International Arena. Except a bias mind and enemy of the present administration, it is an act of sabotage for anybody or group of persons to advise or lobby Mr. President to change a winning leader when he has not attained 35 years in service or 60 years of age”.
Dikko, seemingly had his last major public outing in the position at the formal launching of the Nigeria Trade Hub (NTH) Portal and the Nigeria Import, Export and Transit Process Manual held in Abuja during the week.
NAGAFF however, identified that there is no doubt the post of the Comptroller-General of Customs is strategic to the economy of Nigeria.
The Nigeria Customs Service is believed to be the second in ranking on matters of revenue collection with other ancillary functions thereto. With this in mind, it is a place of pride for the interest most stakeholders are showing in that regard. The fact remains that other than politics, the position of the Comptroller-General of Customs is not different from any other civil servant of the Federation.