Daily Trust
The Ministry of Finance, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Licence Customs Agents and other stakeholders have expressed reservations over the excessive power given to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and alleged infringement on existing laws and mandates of other agencies in the proposed amendment of the Customs Act.
They expressed their divergent views on some of the proposed amendments to the Act during the Public hearing held by the House of Representatives Committee on Customs on Tuesday.
The Bill was titled: “A Bill for an Act to repeal the Customs and Excise Management Act, Cap C45,LFN, 2004, and enact The Nigeria Customs Service (Establishment) Bill, 2021, and for related matters (HB.1729”.
Making their separate presentations, the stakeholders said, some of the proposed amendments negated the provisions of existing laws of many government agencies whose power and mandates will be transferred to the Nigeria Customs Service.
Speaking, the minister of finance, budget and national planning, Zainab Ahmed said, the bill as presented seeks to create an autonomous customs body outside the supervision of the ministry of finance.
She said the proposal is not in consonance with international best practices.
Mrs Ahmed who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ali Ahmed said, in most the developed nations and elsewhere, Customs Administration is under the supervision of the Ministry responsible for Finance, economic management.
The minister said the composition of the Board is bogus adding that, ministries like Aviation, Interior, Transportation and Foreign Affairs need not be represented on the Board of the NCS.
She said: “Also, the intention to replace the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning as the Chairman of the Board with an appointee of Mr President subject to confirmation by the National Assembly, will limit the supervisory authority of the Federal Government.
“This is not in alignment with Section 80 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which creates the Consolidated Revenue Fund and the provisions of Section 4 of the Finance (Management and Control) Act (2004) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
“The NCS does not have the mandate to collate and publish accurate trade statistics or enter into trade facilitation agreements on behalf of the Federal Government without the approval of the Minister and the Federal Executive Council as the Bill is proposing.
