The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise, Leke Joseph Abejide, has dismissed allegations that the purported appointment of Deputy Comptroller I.D. Olorunfemi as the next Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service would trigger the forced retirement of senior officers.
In a statement on Sunday, the lawmaker insisted that all exits from the service are being carried out strictly in accordance with existing public service rules.
Abejide made the clarification while reacting to reports alleging that the succession process within the Nigeria Customs Service could lead to the premature retirement of several senior officers.
He described the report as misleading and allegedly fuelled by misinformation from a junior officer within the Customs Service, maintaining that no officer is being removed to pave the way for another and that all retirements currently taking place are statutory and lawful.
According to him, the Public Service Rules are clear on retirement conditions for public servants, stating that officers must leave service after attaining the age of 60 years or completing 35 years in service.
“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,” Abejide stated.
He further explained that the Nigeria Customs Service is currently dealing with the effects of a prolonged recruitment vacuum spanning about sixteen years, which created a generational imbalance in
