RETIREMENT GALE:
5 DCGs, 13 ACGs AMONGST 825 OFFICERS TO EXIT IN 12 MONTHS’ TIME; TRIGGERING MANAGEMENT CHALLENGE IN THE CUSTOMS
By Timothy Paul Okorocha
In less than one year from now, all members of the current management of the Nigeria Customs service would have been discharged from active service, amongst 825 senior officers who have been penciled down for retirement next year. Five Deputy Comptrollers General as well as 15 Assistant Comptrollers General will be exited.
In all of this development , the affected officers will now compulsorily proceed on the stipulated 3 months pre-retirement leave with no exception or manipulation. They will therefore, not be allowed to use the 3 months pre-retirement leave to engage in ‘catch up’ deals in the name of working through the 90 days notice.
An indexed circular marked NO HRD/2025/048, entitled ‘Final list of officers/men for statutory Retirement in year 2026, dated September 19, 2025 and endorsed by AA Bazuaye, Controller in of Establishment, for the Deputy Comptroller General (HRD) read inter alia;
‘In accordance with the public service Rule (PSR) No.100238 and the Federal Government circular No. 63216/S.1/ X/T;CR1/2001/5 of 20/3/2001, all affected officers due for retirement in 2026 are to discharge from active service and proceed on 3 months’ pre-retirement leave, three months prior to the effective date of retirement’
The circular charged all affected officers to ensure compliance and forward their three months pre-retirement notice to the Comptroller General of Customs accordingly.
Zonal Co-ordinators , Area Controllers, and Unit Heads are requested to make the list available for circulation to all the affected officers in their respective zones, areas and units.
If the content of this circular is adhered strictly, it will help to sanitize the present fraudulent act where officers flout this section of Civil service Rule on the three months pre-retirement leave notice, choosing to hang on , thereby stagnating the future of other senior officers who would have automatically filled their positions.
The fear of the unknown coupled with the ‘juicy’ position they currently hold have been fingered as major cause of the lack of adherence to this regulation.
Instructively, with the looming exit of almost all the management staff latest by September, the yawning challenge of filling those positions may also pose a threat to the smooth running of customs administration unless something drastic is done as a stop-gap approach.
It might see the elevation by two ranks for certain officers to fill the vacant positions, hence ‘extension of service’ seems outlawed for now.
But one surprising manifestation in the playbook, which is looking cherry too, is that the current Comptroller General, Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, will still be on board till end of September next year when his extension runs out and these staff exits have been concluded.
He will have another opportunity to assemble officers from within the ranks of Comptrollers and Deputy Comptrollers to fill the gaps.
At a glance and in line with the retirement list released, almost all the Deputy/Assistant Comptrollers General will all start their pre-retirement leave on September 23rd 2026.
Only one of the DCGs will commence his terminal leave on April 6, next year.
Meanwhile, all zonal co-ordinators , Area Controllers have been warned against retaining any officers who are due for pre-retirement leave. In a circular signed by ACG Umar in charge of Human Resources Department, entitled ‘
RE: REFUSAL OF OFFICERS/MEN TO EMBARK ON PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE AND RELEASE OF ALL NEWLY POSTED OFFICERS’
It said;
I am directed to reiterate that on no account, officers due for pre-retirement leave be found working in your respective areas of jurisdiction as it is the prerogative of the CGC only, to permit or approve any officer to spend the mandatory three (3) months pre-retirement leave in service.
Furthermore, you are to note that under no circumstance should any officer posted in the ongoing transfer exercise be retained or held back for a period exceeding seven (7) days in your Zones /Area Commands.
All officers on transfer are to report to their respective areas of posting with immediate effect.
All Zonal Coordinators and Area Controllers are to ensure full compliance and wide circulation, please.