By John Audu, Abuja .
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has summoned Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, to appear before the committee next Tuesday. This summons comes in response to a petition alleging that several senior officials within the service have refused to retire despite reaching their designated retirement dates.
The Obasi-Pherson Help Foundation filed the petition, claiming that Assistant Comptrollers and Comptrollers, including Imam, Umar, Egwu, Awe, Fatia, and Faith, have ignored their retirement obligations.
In issuing the summons, the committee emphasized the Comptroller General’s responsibility as a public servant to clarify the situation to the Nigerian public. Mike Etaba, Chairman of the Committee on Public Petitions, stated, “Nigerians deserve to know the truth of the matter, and it is only the CG that can clarify the situation. We are elected to serve the people, and part of that service is ensuring that all government agencies operate effectively. In a time when many young people are seeking employment, it is unacceptable for those who are due for retirement to remain in service.”
Etaba further assured that the committee would approach the issue impartially, ensuring that each case is evaluated on its own merits.
In a related matter, the committee has threatened to issue an arrest warrant for the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Identity Management Commission (NIMC) if she fails to attend a hearing regarding allegations of non-payment for a software development project. The project was executed by Truid Limited, which claims that NIMC has breached their licensing agreement.
According to E. R. Opara, legal counsel for Truid Limited, the agreement allowed for the development and deployment of a tokenization system without any financial obligation from NIMC, with returns on investment to be shared with service providers for an initial ten-year period starting in 2021. However, the situation reportedly changed with the appointment of a new NIMC Director General, who has attempted to undermine the agreement.
Chairman Mike Etaba expressed frustration over the NIMC Director General’s repeated absences from hearings. “If she fails to show up at the next session, we will have no choice but to request the Inspector General of Police to ensure her attendance. It is unacceptable for a government official to disregard the authority of this committee,” he stated.
As these developments unfold, the House of Representatives is taking a firm stance to ensure accountability and transparency within Nigeria’s public service.
