Senate To Customs CG: No Uniform, No Meeting

The Nigerian Senate on Thursday sent away the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Hameed Ali from it’s chambers for refusing to appear before it in uniform as previously instructed.

Senators had last week taken a resolution that the Customs boss who had never been sighted in its uniform, appeared before them on Wednesday, March 15 in full uniform to brief them on the service’s new policy on import duty on vehicles.

Ali who said bereavement was the reason for his failure to attend the meeting with the lawmakers yesterday entered the Assembly today with hopes of clarifying issues. After observing protocols, the Customs chief was shown the door after lawmakers took turns to rebuke his dressing.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu said, “Coming was just one part of our invitation, another part is that you wear uniform. Why are you not in uniform?” Hameed Ali however claimed that the last invitation letter sent to him did not stipulate what he should wear. He said: “This letter did not connote that I should wear uniform.”

Replying him, Sen. Ekweremadu : “The invitation letter issued on Wednesday was further to the earlier letters which indicated that you should wear uniform. So this is a reminder. More importantly, this is official. We have expected military chiefs and the Inspector General of Police and they all wear uniform.”

In defence of his appearance, the Comptroller General said: “My not wearing uniform does not breach any law. No law, to my knowledge, that compels me to wear uniform. There is no law that says in doing my service, I have to wear uniform.” He was however lambasted by lawmakers who said there were laws compelling him to put on the uniform of the service he heads. The Deputy Senate President also advised him to lead by example as the Customs number one officer.

The Senate unanimously agreed to reject his appearance and called for another meeting next Wednesday with him donning  his full Customs outfit.