President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the resignation of Dikko Abdullahi, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Abdullahi is now expected to proceed on his voluntary retirement starting from Tuesday August 18 2015.
The President is yet to name Abdullahi’s successor at the time of filing this report. The President’s approval of his retirement request which was dated August 14th and personally signed by him, came on the heels of Abdullahi’s request on the 3rd of August.
In his letter to the President, Abudallahi had notified him of his desire to proceed on voluntary retirement from Tuesday. He had also thanked him for the confidence and trust reposed on him since he (Buhari) was inaugurated on May 29, adding that by August 18th he would have served for six years.
The President’s approval letter titled “Voluntary retirement from the Nigeria Customs Service” read, “Dear, Alhaji D.I. Abdullahi. I write to acknowledge the receipt of your letter Ref. No. NCS/ADM/HQ/P. 35802 of 3rd August, 2015 conveying your decision to voluntarily retire from the Nigeria Customs Service with effect from Tuesday, 18th August, 2015.
“I note with appreciation your services to this nation, especially as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service in the last six (6) years.
“Accordingly, I hereby approve your voluntary retirement from the Nigeria Customs Service with effect from 18th August 2015.
“I wish you the very best in your future endeavours.
“Yours sincerely, Muhammadu Buhari.”
Recalling that on assumption of office, he had a articulated six-point agenda which he vigorously pursued.
According to Abudallihi’s request letter , obtained by our correspondent , the agenda had positively impacted on the efficiency and performance of officers of the service and had drastically changed the negative perception of the service.
He listed the six-point agenda to include capacity building, introduction of e-Customs, enhancing productivity through improved welfare package, moral rebirth for discipline and integrity in service, collaboration and partnering with stakeholders and international organisations, as well as fostering understanding of the Service in the eye of the general public using an intensified and a well-coordinated public relations platform.
He said under his watch, the revenue collection into various coffers of government drastically increased .
Service’s average monthly collection in 2009 when he took over was about N29billion, adding that the average monthly collection is currently between N90billion and N100billion.
He hinged his decision to embark on voluntary resignation on the need to allow young bloods to takeover the mantle of leadership of the Service in order to sustain and improve on his legacy.
Abdullahi concluded, “While thanking Your Excellency and indeed Nigerians for the opportunity to serve and contribute my quota to the development of our fatherland, I wish to seek approval of Your Excellency to be allowed to retire voluntarily on 18th August 2015.
“This decision is taken with a view to allowing young bloods to takeover the mantle of leadership of the Service in order to sustain and improve on my legacy.”
Elizabeth Archibong
