The Nigerian Senate has rejected a letter by the comptroller-general of customs, Col Hameed Ali requesting to be excused from the Senate's invitation on Wednesday, March 15.
The Senate has rejected Ali’s letter requesting for another date for his appearance.
Hameed Ali had informed the Senate that he would not appear before the lawmakers on Wednesday as the date coincided with the routine management of the NCS.
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The Customs boss requested that the upper chamber of the National Assembly fix another date for his appearance.
Ali’s letter requesting for another date for his appearance was read to lawmakers at the plenary on on Tuesday, March 14.
The letter was signed by an assistant comptroller general.
But the senate dismissed the letter and told Hameed he must appear tomorrow, March 15, in uniform.
The Senate was also angry that the letter was written and signed by a deputy comptroller-general, a situation the Senate considered to have undermined their resolution.
However, Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, had urged his colleagues to be considerate in giving the CG another date, adding two wrongs cannot make a right.
But Senator James Manager, while disagreeing with the Senate leader, insisted that Customs CG must appear on Wednesday in uniform as earlier resolved.
“Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, we must be careful in how government officials respond to our resolutions. I have been here since 2003 and we did a lot to build this institution. CG must appear in uniform tomorrow,” he said.
Upholding the resolutions, Senate President stressed that the resolutions for his appearance on Wednesday stands, adding that there was no way a management meeting of Customs could override the Senate.
Recall that the Nigerian Senate and Hameed Ali have been at odds over the refusal of the customs boss to wear the uniform of the service to show his designation.
The Senate had also threatened to recommend the Hameed Ali for the sack if he fails to obey its order on the suspension of the policy on the collection of duties on old vehicles.
READ ALSO: Your directive on old vehicles is unrealistic, NLC to Custom boss
Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West senatorial district moved a motion during plenary on Thursday, March 9 that the Customs boss must be called to order.
Melaye said reports on the newspapers of Thursday that the Customs would continue with policy as against the Senate's order was a coup on democracy and would not be accepted.
He prayed that Hameed Ali should be re-summoned and made to appear live in plenary and not before senate committee on customs. He must also be in Customs uniform.
