SENATE, ALI FACEOFF: Uniform Should Not Be The Issue...... Speaker Dogara

The continued faceoff between the Senate and the Comptroller General of Customs, CGC has continued to generate comments from Stakeholders across the ility.

Joining the fray is the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

Speaker Dogara in his opinion  described the face-off between the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, and the Senate as a “mere distraction".

Dogara made this known when he hosted newspaper editors in his office in Abuja, saying that uniform is not supposed to be the main issue.

“The main issue is delivery", he said, suggesting that Mr. Ali’s performance in office should be the focus.

It could be recalled that only last week, the Senate had called for the resignation of Mr. Ali , saying he was unfit to hold any public office.

The decision of the Senate followed Mr. Ali’s refusal to appear before the lawmakers in full Customs uniform. A week before then, the lawmakers had turned the CGC back after he appeared before them, but without the Customs uniform.

Mr. Ali’s problem with the senate started with a controversial customs policy on retroactive payment of duties on imported cars. Following the senate’s condemnation of the policy, the customs reversed it. But the lawmakers insisted Mr. Ali, a retired army colonel, appear before them.

The Customs boss refused saying the matter was in court – filed by a private citizen – and there was a directive by the attorney general that both parties maintain the current status.

In its resolution last week, the Senate said it would ask the House of Representatives to concur with its decision.

However, Mr. Dogara on Tuesday said the decision of the House of Representatives on the matter can only be decided at the plenary.

“I can’t speak for the House; the House will have to speak for itself through a resolution of the House".

“I cannot pre-judge what the outcome of the debate will be, Dogara said.

The Honourable Speaker however, said the Senate and House work closely as is necessary in a bicameral legislature.

Nigerians and the media should focus more on what the law states on the uniform controversy rather than on the stance of the Senate or Mr. Ali, the Speaker stressed.