Reps to limit CG appointment to serving Customs officers

The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, reviewed a bill seeking to repeal the Customs and Excise Management Act and other laws governing the Nigeria Customs Service, following the withdrawal of assent by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

According to Chairman of the House Committee on Customs and Excise, Leke Abejide, the recommital and review of the bill became necessary as some amendments made by the National Assembly were not duly reflected in the clauses.

The legislation is titled ‘A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Customs and Excise Management Act, Cap. C45, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Other Customs and Excise Legislation and Enact the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2022 to Provide for the Reform of the Administration and Management of Customs and Excise in Nigeria; and for Related Matters.’

The House, as a Committee of the Whole presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, considered and adopted the fresh report on the bill.

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The PUNCH reports that House, on April 12, 2022, considered and adopted the initial report by its Committee on Customs and Excise on a bill to repeal the Customs and Excise Management Act 1958.

The legislation was titled, ‘Bill for an Act to Repeal the Customs and Excise Management Act, Cap.C45, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Enact the Nigeria Customs Service Bill.’

Part of the amendments to the CEMA was the restriction of Controller-General appointment to the serving officers of the Nigeria Customs Service.

If the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), signs the reviewed CEMA into law, the current Controller-General of the NCS, Hammed Ali, a retired Colonel of the Nigerian Army, who was appointed to head the Service, would be the last non-Customs officer to occupy the office.

Abejide had in his presentation to the Committee of the Whole, noted that the old Act had “become obsolete in today’s competitive global world and also, in effective operations of the NCS.”

Abejide also noted that the review of the Act sought to reposition the NCS for improved efficiency and service delivery.