The Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for Plateau/Nasarawa/Benue Command, Umar Ahmed Jada, is embroiled in controversy over overstaying his tenure.
Documents obtained by SaharaReporters reveal that Umar was originally scheduled to retire in December 2023.
A circular titled “List Of Officers/Men For Statutory Retirement In Year 2023” revealed that the officer, identified with SVC No 39261 should proceed on pre-retirement leave on September 31, 2023 and retire officially on December 31, 2023.
Umar was number 30 on the circular dated May 10, 2022 and signed by O.M. Agbara, then Comptroller Establishment on behalf of the Deputy Comptroller – General (HRD).
The document shows that he was born on December 31, 1963 and joined the service on August 31, 1990.
SaharaReporters learnt that the rule in agency is that any retiring official must embark on pre-retirement leave. This is so to enable a seamless transfer of duties.
“Officers are required to give three months’ notice to retire from service before the effective date of retirement. At the commencement of three months, officers should proceed immediately on the mandatory one-month pre-retirement workshop/seminar.
“For the remaining two months, retiring officers are expected to take necessary measures to put their records straight so as to facilitate the speedy processing of their retirement benefits,” rule 100238 of the agency states.
In a turn of events, another document surfaced showing that Umar has revised his official retirement date to December 31, 2024.
In the new circular titled “List Of Officers/Men For Statutory Retirement In Year 2024” his date of birth had been changed from December 1963 to December 1964.
Now number 41 on the new document with SVC No 39261, he was directed to proceed on pre-retirement leave on September 31, 2024 and retire officially on December 31, 2024.
After tampering with his date of birth to illegally adjust his service year till end of 2024, SaharaReporters learnt that Umar currently remains in office and has refused to hand over to another person.
The command’s duty roaster between January 22, 2025 and February 2, 2025 was signed by the officer on January 17, 2025, 17 days after he was due to retire.
“We’re tired of him, nothing is happening. There’s no electricity in the office despite the overhead given from Abuja. He was due to retire in 2023, suddenly his name appeared in 2024 again.
“He is still coming to office, he is occupying official residence and using official vehicles,” an employee told SaharaReporters.
Recently, SaharaReporters reported how some top NCS officers who had reached the end of their service years refused to leave office and were lobbying for an extension of service.
The newspaper learnt that the indicted personnel include high-ranking officers such as Deputy Comptroller-Generals (DCGs), Assistant Comptroller-Generals (ACGs), Comptrollers and Deputy Comptrollers.
According to sources, the officers failed to proceed on retirement leave, and some had continued to report to work even following the expiry of their service years.
The excuse given was that they were waiting for extensions from the Aso Rock Villa.
The development was described as unhealthy and unprecedented in the public service sector, with concerns that it may create confusion and disrupt the normal functioning of the organisation.