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Return on Wednesday Wearing your Uniform – Senate tells Customs Chief Hameed Ali

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Senator Ita Enang and Hameed Ali. Photo Credit: PUNCH

The Senate has asked the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), retired Colonel Hameed Ali to appear before it in uniform next week Wednesday.

This followed a unanimous resolution by the legislators after the Customs chief appeared before them without his uniform.

Ali was accompanied to the Chambers by President Muhammadu Buhari‘s Senior Special Assistant, National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang on Thursday.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary on Thursday, asked Ali why he did not wear his uniform.

Ali replied, saying the last letter he received from the Upper Chamber did not state that he should wear his uniform. He added that there is no law against him not wearing uniform.

Ekweremadu told Ali that the second letter served as a reminder of the first letter to him, in which it was stated that he should appear before the Senate wearing his uniform.

Members of the Senate condemned Ali’s decision, and after a voice vote, Ali was told to return on Wednesday, March 22 wearing his uniform.

Ali was first summoned by the senators over the new order by the Customs Service for all old vehicles to pay their customs duty.

Customs offered a 60 per cent rebate for vehicles from 2015 below.

The comptroller-general had approved one month grace (from March 13 to April 12) for all Nigerian vehicle owners who have not paid duties to do so or face outright seizure of the vehicles.

Ali had in an interview, said he was not employed to wear uniform, saying that what the senators should be worried about is whether he is doing his job.

As the battle between the customs chief continued, the agency, in a statement suspended its decision to continue with implementation of the policy.

Photo Credit: PUNCH

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