Massive lay-off hits Customs as 34 officers embark on compulsory retirement  

As part of the ongoing re-organisation in Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), 34 senior officers have been forced to embark on compulsory retirement from Service with immediate effect.

The re-organization of the Service is one of the core mandates given to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) by the President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement signed by Wale Adeniyi, public relations officer for the Comptroller-General of Customs, those affected in the exercise are five Deputy Comptrollers-General of Customs (DCGs) who have earlier given notification to the Comptroller-General for voluntary disengagement. They are John Atte, Ibrahim Mera, Musa Tahir, Austin Nwosu and Akinade Adewuyi.

Also, three others, of the rank of assistant Comptroller-General are also affected in the re-organisation exercise and they are Madu Mohammed, secretary to the Nigeria Customs Board; Victor Gbemudu, zonal coordinator Zone ‘A’ and Bello Liman, Assistant Comptroller-General, (Headquarters).

The rest of the affected officers are of the rank of comptrollers serving in Customs headquarters, zonal offices and various area commands.

However, the Comptroller-General of Customs stated that the retirements were part of measures to kick-start the repositioning of the Service for improved performance.