President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly waded into the face-off between the Senate and the Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.), over the controversial ultimatum issued to car owners and dealers nationwide to pay the duties on their vehicles between March 13 and April 12, 2019, or risk having their cars impounded.
He did this to prevent a further escalation of the imbroglio brewing between the Senate and the NCS boss.
THISDAY reports that a source in the presidency revealed that Buhari on Tuesday cautioned his appointees to avoid any confrontations with the legislature that would pit it against the executive.
“On getting wind of the impasse that has ensued between the Senate and Ali over his refusal to honour its invitation, President Muhammadu Buhari cautioned all his appointees against causing disaffection between him as the head of the executive arm of government and the National Assembly,” the source said.
In this regard, Buhari was said to have directed Ali to honour the Senate’s summons to prevent an escalation of the stand-off between both sides.
The source further disclosed that the presidency informed Saraki that Ali would appear before the Senate and pleaded that he be given the opportunity to explain himself.
But, the source could not, however, confirm if Ali would appear on Wednesday or not, but disclosed that the presidency immediately reached out to Ali and cautioned him against worsening the executive/legislative relationship, which the president has been working to rebuild.
“It was the media reports of the looming face-off as it unfolded on Tuesday that prompted the presidency to immediately step into the matter,” the source said.
Later in the evening of Tuesday, Ali made a surprise turn up at the National Assembly and went straight into a closed-door meeting with Saraki.
Clad in white traditional attire, he was accompanied by three aides.
The Senate had earlier on Tuesday insisted that Ali must appear on Wednesday before the Senate over his refusal to stay action on the policy and directed him to appear in the full uniform of his rank as the CG of the Customs Service
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