By Baron Ike
The Controller General of the Nigeria Customs, Hameed Ali and the Senate are heading for a collision course over Tuesday, March 7 directive to the Customs chief to shave the idea of planning to seize vehicles of Nigerians over unpaid duty.
On Tuesday, the senate directed Customs to suspend the action, but the NCS went ahead to offer 60 percent rebate on the duty to be paid at a news conference the next day which the upper legislative chambers see as an affront.
Consequently, the senate on Thursday, March 9 summoned Ali, over the plan to seize vehicles without paid duty based on a motion raised by Dino Melaye representing Kogi West. The senate wants him to appear in Customs uniform.
In a voice vote, it was resolved that Ali should appear on Wednesday, March 15.
“The senate will take a resolution and an agency of government will have the temerity, will have the guts, the strength to blatantly disregard the Nigerian senate. It is a very dark day for democracy,” said Melaye.
Melaye continued in his motion: “I’m a member of the Customs Committee. I want to educate some of us, the position of CGC has a rank…. When he appeared before the committee, I asked why he does not wear uniform, and he said uniformed men don’t wear uniform twice.
“I reminded him that he retired as a Colonel and that a General and was appointed as the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, and he proudly wore the uniform of FRSC.
“We need to check this properly, we are taking a decision on behalf of the people, and an agency decides to disrespect the Nigerian senate? If they are taking duty on Nigerian roads, and the President is passing, no Customs officer will stop him and ask for papers, they will rather salute him.
“The Senate has resolved that we invite the CGC to appear in plenary with his uniform to either justify or falsify this statement.”