Twenty-Three Coalition of Civil Rights Groups has jointly called for the immediate sack of Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his unethical imposition and brazen appointment as the Controller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)
In a communique jointly signed by Danesi Momoh Prince, Convener of Empowerment for Unemployed Youths Initiative (EUYI), Igwe Ude-Umanta, Convener Guardian of Democracy and Development Initiative (GDDI), Mallam Suleiman Musa, Executive Secretary of Center for Social Hygiene (CSH) and twenty other Civil Society groups said going by the spirit of “Renewed Hope” mantra of President Tinubu’s administration, Hameed should be relieved of his job with immediate effect.
An excerpt is a communique titled: “Strong appeal to sanitize the Nigeria Customs Service for the much-needed revenue generation by first of all sacking Col. Hameed Ali as Controller-General,”: “We write with reference to the subject matter above.
“May we congratulate you not only on the assumption of office as President, Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but also on hitting the ground running and showing the immediate directions the country must go?
“The strategic position of Nigeria Customs Service as a major revenue mobilizer for the country cannot be over-emphasized.
“It is also no news that all is not well with that service, especially since the service was suffocated by imposing a retired army officer on them by the last administration thereby denying brilliant officers the hope of attaining the zenith of their career.
“Sabotage, nepotism, eye service, ineptitude, and lack of incentive are reportedly the bane of the service. It is therefore a matter of dire urgency to get the Nigeria Customs Service back on track with clear mandates which are in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We have followed Your Excellency’s mission statements, one of which is expanding the National Revenue Base and ensuring stability.
“Therefore, we urge you to act with the dispatch you are dealing with other cancers of the economy by sacking Colonel Hameed Ali (Rtd) and replacing him with a capable trained Customs Officer.
“While looking forward to your urgent action, please accept the assurances of our greatest esteem.
“Yours for a Renewed Hope”, the communique further asserted.
Recall that Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd.) was appointed in August 2015 as Comptroller-General, of Nigeria Customs Service by former President Muhammandu Buhari.
