The Nigeria Customs Service will retire 1,516 officers nationwide over the next two years, following the publication of statutory retirement lists covering 825 officers in 2026 and 691 in 2027.

The planned exits were contained in two restricted circulars from the Service’s Human Resource and Development Department, signed by Comptroller of Establishment A.A. Bazuaye on behalf of the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Human Resources and Development.

The development comes just two days after President Bola Tinubu approved a six-month tenure extension for the Comptroller-General of the NCS, Bashir Adeniyi, with a directive that includes overseeing the retirement of officers who have reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 or completed 35 years in service.

According to the circulars, the Service has finalised a list of 825 officers set to retire in 2026, while a draft list of 691 officers scheduled for statutory retirement in 2027 has also been released.

The NCS said all affected officers are expected to exit active service in line with public service regulations and will proceed on mandatory pre-retirement leave three months before their official retirement dates.

The circulars stated: “I am directed to forward the attached list on the above subject matter as retirement notice to all affected personnel. In accordance with the Public Service Rule No. 100238 and Federal Government circular No.63216/S.I/X/T; CR 1,/2001/5 of 20/03/2001, all affected officers due for retirement are to disengage from the active service and proceed on pre-retirement leave, three months prior to their effective date of retirement.”

The Service also stated that officers who notice any errors or omissions in the 2027 retirement list have been given the opportunity to request corrections before the list is finalised.

The circular noted that “any observed error, omission or legitimate complaints arising from the attached list should be forwarded to the office of the Deputy Comptroller-General (HRD) on or before 31 July 2026.”

A breakdown of the 2026 retirement list shows that the Deputy Superintendent of Customs cadre has the highest number of exits, with 285 officers, followed by the Superintendent of Customs cadre with 226 officers.

Other officers scheduled to retire in 2026 include 64 Assistant Superintendents of Customs I, 61 Chief Superintendents of Customs, 53 Chief Customs Officers, 51 Deputy Customs Officers, 46 Assistant Customs Officers, 13 Assistant Comptrollers-General, and five Deputy Comptrollers-General, among others.

For 2027, the Superintendent of Customs cadre will account for the largest share of retirements with 200 officers, while 193 Deputy Superintendents of Customs are also expected to exit the Service. Other affected cadres include Deputy Customs Officers, Chief Superintendents of Customs, Assistant Customs Officers, Chief Customs Officers, and Assistant Comptrollers-General.

The circulars also directed Zonal Coordinators, Area Controllers, and Unit Heads to ensure that all affected personnel are duly notified, and that retirement processes are carried out in strict compliance with existing public service regulations.