The Senate has asked the Presidency to use the already appropriated N14.2 billion in the 2023 budget to construct the Nigerian Customs Academy and Training School in Bauchi.
The Red Chamber also mandated its Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff, when constituted, to embark on effective oversight of the construction and completion of the envisioned one-stop-shop operational centre for the revenue-generating agency.
The resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Senator Umar Shehu Buba (APC Bauchi South) and 16 other senators during plenary.
Senator Buba, in the motion, noted that the proposed Nigerian Customs Service Training School and Academy is envisioned to be a one-stop-shop for the revenue-generating agency.
“It consists of an administrative block, perimeter fence, senior staff housing, generator house, staff room, classrooms, library, laboratories, workshop/dining hall, girls’ hostel, boys’ hostel, intermediate staff housing, sports area, chief security office etc, which is estimated to gulp approximately the sum of N14,200,000,000 billion.
“Construction of the afore-stated additional Customs Training/Academy to the existing ones will provide the needed professional training towards meeting the demands of the institution in the country, thereby bringing out officers/personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service in tune with the current realities of professionalism in all their dealings and international best practices which would rid them of unprofessional and unethical conducts.
“It could be recalled that due to unethical conduct in the discharge of their duties, this revered Senate, on the 19th day of July 2023, considered a motion on reckless abuse of firearms by officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service, which led to loss of innocent lives.
“Therefore, as contained in Item 262 on the details of the Appropriation Act 2023, the earmarked N14.2 billion for construction of Service Academy and Training School, should be utilized by the Federal Government in putting the highly needed capacity enhancement institutions on ground for Customs,” he stressed.
Virtually all the senators who contributed to the motion supported it with attendant adoption of the three prayers sought.
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