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The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to consider extending the tenure of the current Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Dikko Inde Abdullahi to August 2016, stressing that any acceptance of his resignation at this time, would truncate the ongoing reforms, in the Nigeria Customs Service.
The NAGAFF Head of Special Duties, Dipo Olayoku stated this in a message, Dikko as a CGC who had transformed the Service into a dynamic and vibrant organization able to entrench honour, integrity and knowledge in a zero- tolerance war, against corruption.
According to him, “Whereas there are those severally calling for his exit to enable their criminal acts against the Nigerian state be revealed, we did ask Mr. President to extend his tenure to August 2016 to enable him consolidate the last stage of his reforms”, he said “especially in the area of revenue function, anti-smuggling, infrastructure, welfare of officers, capacity building, information technology, innovation in risk management technique, trade facilitation and partnership in Customs operations, trade intelligence gathering and international affiliations.
He lamented, “We as critical stakeholders and interested parties shall continue to remember that Dikko is the most hunted Comptroller General of Customs by those who do not wish the Nigeria Customs Service well. As the Comptroller General of Customs Alhaji Inde Dikko Abdullahi may have informed Mr. President of his intention to take a bow out of the Service after six years of sojourn, as the Comptroller General of Customs, we consider him and honour him with the title of the ‘Veteran of Customs Reforms in Nigeria. We do hope that he will visit us and other critical stakeholders in Lagos to take a valedictory salute and honour of excellent performance.” He added.
Dipo stated that the lobby by some ex-Customs officers and tax experts may be eyeing part of the statutory function of the Service in the name of privatization, if Mr. President, however, in spite of their plea, allows Dikko’s resignation intention to stand, the NAGAFF as critical stakeholders should be allowed to suggest the names of three persons, who could be considered, since they, as stakeholders understand the terrain, far better than several others.
Dipo asserted “Whereas it is the prerogative of Mr. President to appoint a new CGC, it is our opinion and advice that the input of the critical stakeholders may be sought because we know the officers and men of the Service better. The ongoing reform and anti- corruption crusade of the present administration requires an officer of honour, integrity, knowledge and zero tolerance for corruption, IT compliant, a trade facilitator and a team player of responsible partnership in Customs operations”,
Dipo asserted “Whereas it is the prerogative of Mr. President to appoint a new CGC, it is our opinion and advice that the input of the critical stakeholders may be sought because we know the officers and men of the Service better. The ongoing reform and anti- corruption crusade of the present administration requires an officer of honour, integrity, knowledge and zero tolerance for corruption, IT compliant, a trade facilitator and a team player of responsible partnership in Customs operations”,
“We shall be forwarding three names that we consider most appropriate for Mr. President’s consideration, who should be able to sustain the high tempo of the outgoing CGC reforms”, the body concluded.
