By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigeria Customs Service (NBS) will face a significant workforce gap as 1,516 officers, including senior management personnel, are scheduled to retire between 2026 and 2027.

Official retirement lists show that 825 officers will leave the service in 2026, while another 691 are due for retirement in 2027. The exits span all cadres, from Deputy Comptrollers-General to junior officers, creating one of the largest retirement waves in the agency’s recent history.

Lawmakers and customs officials attribute the development to a 16-year recruitment gap that resulted in a large cohort of officers advancing through the ranks simultaneously and now reaching mandatory retirement age or service limits at about the same period.

The retirement notices were contained in two restricted circulars 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.

The first document, Circular No. HRD/2025/048 dated September 19, 2025, contains what was described as the final list of 825 officers scheduled to retire in 2026.

The breakdown shows that the Deputy Superintendent of Customs cadre accounts for 285 officers, followed by the Superintendent of Customs with 226 officers. Other affected cadres include Assistant Superintendent of Customs I with 64 officers, Chief Customs Officer with 53, Deputy Customs Officer with 51, Assistant Customs Officer with 46, Chief Superintendent of Customs with 61, Inspector of Customs with eight, Assistant Superintendent of Customs II with 10, Customs Assistant I with one, Customs Assistant II with two, Assistant Comptroller-General with 13 and Deputy Comptroller-General with five officers.

A second Circular No. HRD/2026/020 dated May 26, 2026, forwarded a draft list of 691 officers due for statutory retirement in 2027.

The list indicates that the Superintendent of Customs cadre will account for the highest number of retirements with 200 officers, followed by the Deputy Superintendent of Customs cadre with 193 officers. Others include Deputy Customs Officer with 81 officers, Chief Superintendent of Customs with 68, Assistant Customs Officer with 57, Assistant Superintendent of Customs I with 39, Chief Customs Officer with 38, Assistant Superintendent of Customs II with four, Customs Assistant I with four, Customs Assistant II with four, Inspector of Customs with two and Assistant Comptroller-General with four officers.

In both circulars, the Service directed affected officers to proceed on mandatory pre-retirement leave in accordance with Public Service Rule 100238 and Federal Government Circular No. 63216/S.I/X/T; CR 1/2001/5 of March 20, 2001.

The officers were further directed to ensure compliance and forward their three-month pre-retirement notice to the Comptroller-General of Customs accordingly.

The circulars stated that, “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 2027 circular also opened a window for complaints and corrections, stating that “any observed error, omission or legitimate complaints arising from the attached list should be forwarded to the office of the Deputy Comptroller-General (HRD) on or before 31 July 2026.”

To ensure dissemination, Zonal Coordinators, Area Controllers and Unit Heads were directed to circulate the lists to all affected officers.

Some of the affected officers include Deputy Comptrollers-General Omale (SVC No. 41148), who retired on June 7, 2026; Nnadi (SVC No. 43193), whose retirement took effect on March 3, 2026; Chiroma (SVC No. 42988), who retired on September 23, 2026; and Adeola MRS (SVC No. 42972) and Niagwan (SVC No. 41524), both scheduled to retire on December 23, 2026.

Among Assistant Comptrollers-General affected by the 2026 retirement exercise are Egwuh (SVC No. 38991), who retired on March 14, 2026; Umoh (SVC No. 41351), who exited the Service on February 2, 2026; Mohammed (SVC Nos. 41394 and 41395), both of whom retired on June 24, 2026; and Abe (SVC No. 41110), whose retirement date is August 21, 2026.

Others are Olomu (SVC No. 41145), Olaniyan (SVC No. 41197), Yusuf (SVC No. 41257), Oladeji (SVC No. 41308) and Gaji (SVC No. 41328), all scheduled to retire on September 24, 2026. Also on the list are Adebakin (SVC No. 41670) and Bomodi (SVC No. 42758), both due for retirement on September 23, 2026, as well as Nyam (SVC No. 40428) and Abubakar (SVC No. 40139), whose retirement dates are October 1, 2026, among others.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise, Mr Leke Joseph Abejide, said the retirements were statutory and not connected to reports surrounding the appointment of a new Comptroller-General of Customs.

“The Civil Service Rules are very clear. Retirement after 35 years in service or at the age of 60 is not by compulsion; it is by law. Therefore, suggestions that any officer would be retired to create room for another appointment are false and misleading,” he said.

The lawmaker attributed the large number of retirements to a prolonged recruitment gap in the Service.

“There is a 16-year gap of non-recruitment and stagnant promotion. As a result, officers of 41000, 42000, and 43000 service numbers categories have risen through the ranks almost simultaneously and now occupy similar levels of seniority,” Mr Abejide said.

He explained that the situation had created a top-heavy structure within the Service, with many officers reaching retirement age or service limits at about the same period.

Mr Abejide disclosed that more than 1,500 officers were expected to retire under the provisions of Public Service Rule 100238, stressing that the exercise was a natural and legally mandated process rather than a consequence of any leadership succession arrangement.

This development comes after President Bola Tinubu on Friday approved a final six-month tenure extension for the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr Adewale Adeniyi, allowing him to remain in office until February 2027.

The extension was announced in a statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga.

According to the statement, Mr Adeniyi’s first tenure extension was due to expire on August 1, 2026, but Tinubu approved an additional six months to enable him to complete key reforms within the Customs Service.

The presidency said the extension was granted “to enable him to consolidate the implementation of the National Single Window and ensure an orderly succession in the service.”

The presidential spokesman added that during the transition period, Mr Adeniyi would work with the Nigeria Customs Service Board to oversee critical personnel matters.

“During the transition period, Adeniyi, working with the Nigeria Customs Service Board, will ensure the promotion of eligible officers to the rank of Comptroller of Customs and the compulsory retirement of officers who have attained 60 years of age or have served 35 years,” the statement said.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas seven days to ensure lawmakers refund all monies, allowances, and benefits received under the N110 billion vehicle procurement and support allowance schemes declared unlawful by a Federal High Court.

The rights group urged Mr Akpabio, Mr Abbas and the National Assembly “to immediately establish effective mechanisms to ensure that all future procurements and expenditure of public funds comply strictly with due process requirements and are guided by the principles of transparency, accountability and value for money.”

SERAP also urged them “to institutionalise public hearings on the lawmakers’ budget during every budget cycle and proactively publish the National Assembly’s detailed budgetary and expenditure information to enhance transparency, strengthen public confidence, and promote meaningful public participation in the budgeting process.”

The requests followed the judgment of the Federal High Court in Lagos, delivered by Justice Yellim Bogoro in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1606/2023, which found that the spending of N40 billion on 465 vehicles for lawmakers and N70 billion in support allowances for newly elected members breached procurement laws, constitutional obligations, and the public trust.

In the letter signed by SERAP deputy director, Mr Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Flowing from Justice Bogoro’s judgment, there must be consequences and full restitution for the lawmakers’ failure to comply with their constitutional and statutory obligations, particularly in relation to the unlawful expenditure of the N110 billion, as found by the Court.”

“Allowing lawmakers to retain benefits derived from unlawful and unconstitutional expenditure would be entirely inconsistent with the constitutional duty to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power and would undermine public confidence in democratic institutions,” it said.

“Although the judgment does not expressly order a refund of the N110 billion, it provides a compelling factual and legal basis for restitution when read together with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], anti-corruption legislation, and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.”

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions against you, other lawmakers, and the National Assembly to secure the recovery and return of the unlawfully expended N110 billion in the public interest and in accordance with the rule of law,” SERAP demanded.

The group said the reimbursement of “unlawfully obtained benefits” would help to restore public trust, deter future abuses, protect the right to development, and ensure that public resources are used for the benefit of the Nigerian people rather than for private enrichment.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Biodun Oyebanji, as the winner of the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election.

The Returning Officer for the Ekiti State governorship election, Mrs Adenike Oladiji, who declared the results at about 3:13 a.m. on Sunday, said that the incumbent Oyebanji polled 319,224 votes.

Mrs Oladiji, a professor and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, said that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Oluwole Oluyede, scored 40,543 votes, while Mr Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Party (ADP) polled 12,872 votes.

According to her, a total of 384,940 voters were accredited for the election, with 375,777 valid votes, 6,332 rejected votes, and a total of votes cast.

Voting, which began at about 8:31 a.m, ended officially at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, with more than 380,000 voters casting their ballots.

Mr Oyebanji, who won all 16 local government areas with the victory at the polls, becomes the first Ekiti State governor to be re-elected to office since 1999.

The Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Mr Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, and his colleague in Ogun State, Mr Dapo Abiodun, have expressed delight in the victory of the Ekiti State governor.

Speaking at the Ekiti State Government House, Mr Uzodimma said Mr Oyebanji’s victory signalled the success of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and, by extension, that of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

He said the electorate voted massively for the APC and its candidate despite ongoing reforms that have brought hardship to citizens.

According to him, democracy in the country is growing, with significant achievements being recorded across various sectors. He noted that the economy is becoming stronger and the political system is evolving into a more sustainable one.

Governor Abiodun described Mr Oyebanji’s victory, with about 90 per cent of the votes, as a testament to his performance during his first term in office and the love the people have for the ruling APC.

“The percentage of victory is almost 90 per cent. I rejoice with him. I rejoice with the good people of Ekiti State. I rejoice with the All Progressives Congress, particularly our National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, our President, and all the good people of Nigeria,” he said.

“This is an indication of what the 2027 elections would look like going forward, and we are excited about the future of our polity and Nigeria. Again, I congratulate Governor Oyebanji, his wife, the entire cabinet, the APC family in Ekiti State, the APC family in Nigeria, and all of you. Thank you very much,” he added.