Sahara Reporters has taken to it’s official X handle and announced that, A major controversy has erupted within the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) as Umar Ahmed Jada, the Comptroller of the Plateau/Nasarawa/Benue Command, has allegedly manipulated his retirement date to unlawfully extend his stay in office.
Investigative findings by SaharaReporters reveal that Jada was originally slated for retirement on December 31, 2023. However, in a suspicious turn of events, official documents now indicate that his retirement has been postponed to December 31, 2024—an extension facilitated by an alleged alteration of his date of birth.
According to a circular titled “List of Officers/Men for Statutory Retirement in Year 2023”, Jada, identified with SVC No. 39261, was required to proceed on pre-retirement leave by September 31, 2023, ahead of his official exit on December 31, 2023. The document, dated May 10, 2022, and signed by O.M. Agbara on behalf of the Deputy Comptroller-General (HRD), clearly listed him as number 30 among those due for statutory retirement.
Records show that Jada was born on December 31, 1963, and joined the NCS on August 31, 1990. As per civil service rules, retiring officers are mandated to give a three-month notice and proceed on a one-month pre-retirement seminar, followed by two months dedicated to finalizing their records for pension processing.
However, fresh documents surfaced, revealing that Jada’s official retirement date had been suspiciously shifted by a year. The new circular, titled “List of Officers/Men for Statutory Retirement in Year 2024”, reflects a change in his birth year from 1963 to 1964. Now listed as number 41 on the 2024 retirement list, he is scheduled to go on pre-retirement leave on September 31, 2024, and retire by December 31, 2024.
Despite this clear manipulation, Jada has continued to hold onto power. A leaked duty roster from the Plateau/Nasarawa/Benue Command between January 22, 2025, and February 2, 2025, was reportedly signed by Jada on January 17, 2025—seventeen days after he was originally due for retirement.
Frustrated staff within the command have expressed their grievances over his continued presence, citing poor office conditions and administrative stagnation under his leadership.
“We’re tired of him. Nothing is happening. There’s no electricity in the office despite overhead funds provided from Abuja. He was supposed to leave in 2023, but suddenly his name appeared in the 2024 list. He is still occupying official residence and using official vehicles,” an employee lamented to SaharaReporters.
Jada’s case is not an isolated incident. Investigations have revealed a disturbing pattern within the Nigeria Customs Service, where top-ranking officers, including Deputy Comptroller-Generals (DCGs), Assistant Comptroller-Generals (ACGs), Comptrollers, and Deputy Comptrollers, are reportedly lobbying for illegal tenure extensions.
Sources claim that some of these officers have outright refused to proceed on pre-retirement leave, exploiting political connections in Aso Rock to justify their extended stay in service.
The development has raised serious concerns about accountability and due process in the NCS, with fears that such actions could create administrative chaos and set a dangerous precedent for the country’s public service sector.
The unfolding scandal has triggered widespread outrage, with calls for an urgent investigation into Jada’s tenure extension and similar cases within the agency. Many believe that allowing such blatant disregard for service rules undermines the integrity of the NCS and fosters corruption within the institution.
As the controversy deepens, all eyes are now on the authorities to see whether they will take decisive action or allow yet another case of impunity to slide under the radar.
The ball is now in the court of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies, civil service regulators, and the presidency. Will they uphold the law and restore discipline within the NCS, or will Jada and others continue to manipulate the system unchecked?
Only time will tell.
PIONEER NEWS 