By Chinyere Aruogu
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has been explaining the reasons behind the disengagement of some of its officers lately. It did on Tuesday, January 24 confirming that the exercise carried out last year affected 59 of its serving officers.
In a statement, the Public Relations Officer of the Service, Joseph Attah, explained that the exercise was the one carried out last year and not this year.
He said contrary to reports that the disengagement was done this year, the reporters relied on an internal memo dated January 19, this year, which was a simple compilation of the names affected, ranging from warning, retirement to dismissal for different offences.
Attah explained:“ That as a routine practice of keeping officers and men of the Service informed, the Ag. Comptroller (Discipline) compiled the names of all officers affected by the disciplinary action for circulation to all customs formations across the country.
“The notification to serving officers and men is in keeping with the Service pre-emptive measures to deter any affected officer who may choose to hang around to engage in illegalities.
“It is therefore, unfortunate for a reporter to stumble on an internal communication of an organisation and rush to press without seeking for clarification.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Service has not dismissed any officer since the one duly reported last year. The story is false and represents a repetition of same story delivered as new.
“While the NCS will not hesitate to discipline erring officers, such action is usually painstakingly driven through all well established disciplinary procedures.”