Mass retirement hit the Nigeria Customs Service as 1,516 officers are set to leave the service in the next two years.
The development was disclosed on two circulars on statutory retirement lists covering 825 officers in 2026 and 691 officers in 2027.
The circular, issued by the Service’s Human Resource and Development Department and signed by the Comptroller, Establishment, A.A. Bazuaye, on behalf of the Deputy Comptroller-General, Human Resources and Development, detailed the individuals affected.
The planned retirement will affect officers across all cadres, from the rank of deputy comptroller-general to customs assistant II.
“I am directed to forward the attached list on the above subject matter as a retirement notice to all affected personnel. In accordance with the Public Service Rule (PSR) No. 100238 and Federal Government circular No. 63216/S.I/X/T; CR 1,/2001/5 of 20/03/2001, all affected officers due for retirement are to disengage from the active service and proceed on pre-retirement leave three months prior to their effective date of retirement.”
The development comes barely three days after President Bola Tinubu approved a fresh six-month tenure extension for the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
With the development, Adeniyi’s position is expected to be vacant in the next six months.
Already, there are allegations that the chairman of the House Committee on Customs, Leke Abejide, is plotting to install his relatives.
Reacting to the allegation, Abejide dismissed the claim.