Summons Comptroller-General, Warns NIMC Boss Over Absenteeism
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has summoned the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, to appear before it next Tuesday over allegations that some senior officials of the service have refused to retire despite reaching their mandatory retirement dates.
The petition, filed by the Obasi-Pherson Help Foundation, alleges that top-ranking officials, including Assistant Comptrollers Imam, Umar, and Egwu, as well as Comptrollers Awe, Fatia, and Faith, have remained in office beyond their retirement dates.
Customs CG Must Provide Clarity—House Committee
Chairman of the Committee, Mike Etaba, emphasized that the Customs Comptroller-General has a duty to address public concerns regarding the issue.
> “Nigerians deserve to know the truth, and only the CG can provide the necessary clarification. As elected officials, our responsibility is to ensure government agencies function efficiently. In a time when many of our youth are seeking employment, it would be unjust for older public servants who are due for retirement to delay their departure,” Etaba stated.
A statement issued by Chooks Oko, Head of Media, Public Petitions Committee, HoR, further clarified that the committee remains impartial in its investigations, stressing that justice will be served based on merit.
NIMC Boss Faces Arrest Threat Over Software Dispute
In a related development, the Committee has issued a warning to the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), threatening to order her arrest should she continue to ignore invitations to appear before the House.
The summons follows allegations from Truid Limited, a private firm, accusing NIMC of breaching a license agreement regarding a state-of-the-art software development project.
According to E.R. Opara, legal counsel for Truid Limited, the agreement allowed Truid to fund, develop, and deploy a tokenization system at no cost to NIMC. The firm was expected to recoup its investment through service provider patronage, with proceeds shared according to an agreed ratio. However, Truid claims that since the appointment of NIMC’s new Director-General, efforts have been made to terminate the agreement.
Expressing disappointment over the continued absence of the NIMC boss, Chairman Etaba warned that the Committee would escalate the matter.
> “If she fails to appear at the next hearing, we will have no choice but to request the Inspector General of Police to ensure her attendance. It is unacceptable for a government official to treat a constituted authority with such disregard. We can no longer tolerate this behavior,” Etaba stated.
The House Committee’s actions signal heightened scrutiny of public officers accused of flouting retirement laws and contractual obligations, reinforcing legislative oversight and accountability in government institutions.
