Customs lost 1,516 officers to retirement

The Nigerian Customs Service has registered 1,516 officers who will retire over the next two years due to their age or length of service.

Those affected following the release of the statutory retirement list include 825 officers in 2026 and 691 officers in 2027.

The retirement notification was contained in two circulars issued by the Department of Human Resources and Development Services and signed by the Comptroller General, Establishment, AA Bazuaye, on behalf of the Deputy Comptroller General, Human Resources and Development.

According to the document, officers in all cadres, from the rank of Deputy Comptroller General to Assistant II of Customs, will retire from service in accordance with statutory retirement provisions.

The first document, Circular Number HRD/2025/048 dated 19 September 2025, contains the final list of 825 officers who are scheduled to retire in 2026.

If detailed, the cadre of Deputy Customs Inspectors is 285 officers, followed by Customs Inspectors with 226 officers. Other cadres affected include 64 Assistant Customs Inspectors I, 53 Chief Customs Officers, 51 Deputy Customs Officers, 46 Assistant Customs Officers, 61 Chief Customs Inspectors, 8 Customs Inspectors, 10 Assistant Customs Inspectors II, 1 Customs Assistant I, 2 Customs Assistants, 13 Assistant Comptroller Generals, and 5 Deputy Financial Comptroller Generals. officer.

The second Circular Number HRD/2026/020 dated 26 May 2026 forwards the draft list of 691 officers who will retire according to the law in 2027.

The list shows that the largest number of retirees is the Customs Supervisor Cadre with 200 officers, followed by the Deputy Customs Supervisor Cadre with 193 officers. Others include 81 Deputy Customs Officers, 68 Chief Customs Inspectors, 57 Assistant Customs Officers, 39 Assistant Customs Inspectors I, 38 Chief Customs Officers, four Customs Assistant Inspectors II, four Customs Assistants I, four Customs Assistants II, two Customs Inspectors, and four Assistant Comptroller Generals.

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

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

The circular states that, “I am directed to forward the attached list on the above subject as retirement notification to all affected personnel. In accordance with Public Service Regulation (PSR) No. 100238 and Federal Government circular No.63216/SI/X/T; CR 1,/2001/5 dated 03/20/2001, all officers affected by retirement must retire from active service and go on pre-retirement leave, three months before the effective date of his retirement.”

The 2027 circular also opens up opportunities for complaints and corrections, stating that “any errors, omissions or legitimate complaints arising from the attached list should be forwarded to the office of the Deputy Comptroller General (HRD) on or before July 31, 2026.”

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