Some Nigerians on Friday urged the Comptroller-General of
the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd), to wear Customs
uniform as demanded by the Senate.
They made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos in reaction to Senate’s resolution that the Customs CG must appear before the lawmakers in uniform.
The red chamber on Thursday turned back Ali when he appeared
before the members in mufti and directed him to appear on Wednesday in
uniform.
After the resolution, Deputy President of the Senate, Mr.
Ike Ekweremadu, who presided at the plenary, explained that Section 2 of
the Customs Act provided that all officers, including
comptroller-general, must wear uniform.
A lawyer, Mr Onyekachi Ubani, advised Ali to wear the
uniform to the senate as directed “to earn respect and reduce tension in
the polity’’.
According to Ubani, politics is about compromise and
anything that could cause crisis should be clearly avoided in the
interest of the people.
“The Customs CG is retired from the military and should uphold the Customs regulations.
“There is a regulation by the Board of the Customs that all
officers are expected to wear the uniform; the CG is the number one
officer and should comply.
“Also, the Senate has oversight functions, they are our
representatives. They might not be doing well but we cannot use that as
an excuse to allow impunity in the system.
”Ali should in the interest of the service wear the uniform;
it is a sign of discipline and identification. Such compliance will
reduce tension in the polity, ” Ubani said.
A Youth Development Strategist, Mr. Dotun Ojo, said that
wearing the uniform would have positive effect on the efficiency and
productivity of the service.
“This is a uniform service and if Ali wears the uniform as a
leader, it will inspire others, especially the followers. This is the
effect of leadership.
“The hallmark of democracy is the dividend to the people and
all the arms of government need to put their personal interests aside
and uphold national interest to deliver adequately.
“The uniform issue, which to me seem like a trivial or
personal issue, has overshadowed the main issue which is supposed to
have direct effect on the people.
“Ali should just comply by wearing the uniform to the
chamber so that this energy being dissipated on the issue will be better
utilised on issues of national interest,” Ojo said.
In his views, Mr. Charles Ideho said that Ali did not have
any excuse not to wear the uniform because the President, as
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces wore the Army, Navy and Air Force
uniforms at some ceremonies.
“If the president as a civilian can comply, Ali does not
have any excuse. He cannot enjoy all the privileges as the leader of
that agency and refuse to play by the rules.
”Since he accepted to do the job, he should show and lead by
example so that we stop heating up the polity unnecessarily,” Ideho
said.
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