Customs boss, Ali, dares Senate

•Says ’ll not appear in uniform
The Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.) is on a collision course with the Nigerian Senate has firmly said he would not appear in Customs uniform as ordered by the Upper Chamber
Speaking on TVC Breakfast Show on Friday said there is a procedure for inviting members of the executive to appear before the Senate. If that procedure is followed I will abide. “No executive is invited on media network either on the television or on the radio. There is a proper procedure laid down for the members of the executive to appear before the Senate. It that proper procedure is followed, we will adhere to that.
On the insistence of the Senate that he should appear in Customs uniform when he would appear, he replied. “No, I was not appointed Comptroller General to wear uniform. Does the uniform work or the person in the uniform? Am I doing my job or not? That should be what should worry the National Assembly”, he said.
The Senate on Thursday asked the Comptroller General to appear “in plenary in uniform” on Wednesday “unfailingly.”
Members of the Senate were pushing for drastic action against the NCS and its D-G over the alleged the refusal to suspend action on the proposed clamp down on vehicles without duty payment, as ordered by the legislature.
The senators vent their anger during the plenary on Thursday. Part of the actions proposed by the senator is to summon Ali to appear before all the lawmakers in the chamber in Customs uniform, which the NSC boss had refused to wear.
The lawmakers also called for Ali’s removal if he failed to comply with directives from the Senate.