Maritime Editors Task FG on Customs Autonomy, Reform with Tenure for CGC, Others
By Chinonso Apeh
The League of Maritime Editors (LOME) on Tuesday called on the federal government to consider granting the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) autonomy as obtains in the Central Bank of Nigeria and some other agencies of the government.
League also asked the federal government, particularly the National Assembly, to carry out a fresh amendment of the Customs Act 2023, to provide for specific tenure for any serving Comptroller General of the Service and other appointees.
In a press statement signed by the President, Mrs Remi Itie and Public Relations Officer, Mr. Francis Ugwoke, the association pointed out that after the Customs and Excise Management Act(CEMA) amendment which paved the way for reforms on modernization of its operations, there appears to be a missing link.
According to the group, “decades of clamour for the autonomy of the Service, and indeed, the specific tenure of appointees in the management cadre of the Service, including the Comptroller-General of the Service, Deputy Comptroller-General and Assistant Comptroller Generals was left out”.
The group said the government should provide for four or five years tenure in the amendment, adding that this is the case in some other agencies.
The group identified the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and even the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have tenures for the Chief Executive officers.
The statement from the League reads in full:
“The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in 2023 repealed the Customs and Excise Management Act(CEMA), paving way for reforms which centered on modernization of its operations to be in line with global standards and best practices.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Act 2023 which birthed in place of CEMA no doubt, brought about positive changes leading to the current excellent performance of the leadership, officers and men of the Customs Service.
But there appears to be a missing link in the 2023 Customs Act amendment.
Decades of clamour for the autonomy of the Service, and indeed, the specific tenure of appointees in the management cadre of the Service, including the Comptroller-General of the Service, Deputy Comptroller-General and Assistant Comptroller Generals was left out.
“The current scenario is that the tenure of these leaders is not stated, a development in which they simply retire on attaining 35 years in Service or 60 years of age. It does not matter whether they spend six months in office, as they are compelled to bow out irrespective of what developmental programmes they have at hand.
The League of Maritime Editors sees this as an aberration and calls on the Federal Government, specifically the National Assembly, to as a matter of urgency, consider an urgent amendment to this aspect of the Customs Act.
Incidentally, the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise had given an indication of planning an amendment of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, and we see this as an opportunity to address this lacuna.
“Chairman of the Committee, Honourabke Leke Abejide during a recent visit to the Lagos ports pointed this out, promising that part of the amendment would be to ensure a four year statutory tenure for any serving Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC).
This, we welcome, and call on the Federal Government, including the lawmakers to expedite action on the amendment to ensure a sustainable leadership plan for the Service.
“Abeide had expressed regret that the 2023 Nigeria Customs Service Act failed to stipulate this in its provisions.
Although the view of the Legal Adviser of the House Committee during the visit was that the civil service rule supersedes tenure for the Customs CG, the League is of the view that this argument does not hold water for obvious reasons.
The House Committee, in its reform should be reminded that the Central Bank Governor and the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) are all government appointees whose stay in office are tenured.
“As a matter of fact, there are other agencies with such tenure, including the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) who enjoys a tenure of five years and can do a maximum of two tenures.
We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to consider the Customs Act amendment with the provisions for the position of the CGC to be tenured either for four years or five years, with a single tenure, at worse scenario.
“With such time, the CGC on assuming office would be able to plan development efforts, execute some of them before leaving office, while mentoring successors for sustainable management”.
The League of Maritime Editors (LOME) on Tuesday called on the federal government to consider granting the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) autonomy as obtains in the Central Bank of Nigeria and some other agencies of the government.
League also asked the federal government, particularly the National Assembly, to carry out a fresh amendment of the Customs Act 2023, to provide for specific tenure for any serving Comptroller General of the Service and other appointees.
In a press statement signed by the President, Mrs Remi Itie and Public Relations Officer, Mr. Francis Ugwoke, the association pointed out that after the Customs and Excise Management Act(CEMA) amendment which paved the way for reforms on modernization of its operations, there appears to be a missing link.
According to the group, “decades of clamour for the autonomy of the Service, and indeed, the specific tenure of appointees in the management cadre of the Service, including the Comptroller-General of the Service, Deputy Comptroller-General and Assistant Comptroller Generals was left out”.
The group said the government should provide for four or five years tenure in the amendment, adding that this is the case in some other agencies.
The group identified the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and even the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have tenures for the Chief Executive officers.
The statement from the League reads in full:
“The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in 2023 repealed the Customs and Excise Management Act(CEMA), paving way for reforms which centered on modernization of its operations to be in line with global standards and best practices.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Act 2023 which birthed in place of CEMA no doubt, brought about positive changes leading to the current excellent performance of the leadership, officers and men of the Customs Service.
But there appears to be a missing link in the 2023 Customs Act amendment.
Decades of clamour for the autonomy of the Service, and indeed, the specific tenure of appointees in the management cadre of the Service, including the Comptroller-General of the Service, Deputy Comptroller-General and Assistant Comptroller Generals was left out.
“The current scenario is that the tenure of these leaders is not stated, a development in which they simply retire on attaining 35 years in Service or 60 years of age. It does not matter whether they spend six months in office, as they are compelled to bow out irrespective of what developmental programmes they have at hand.
The League of Maritime Editors sees this as an aberration and calls on the Federal Government, specifically the National Assembly, to as a matter of urgency, consider an urgent amendment to this aspect of the Customs Act.
Incidentally, the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise had given an indication of planning an amendment of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, and we see this as an opportunity to address this lacuna.
“Chairman of the Committee, Honourabke Leke Abejide during a recent visit to the Lagos ports pointed this out, promising that part of the amendment would be to ensure a four year statutory tenure for any serving Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC).
This, we welcome, and call on the Federal Government, including the lawmakers to expedite action on the amendment to ensure a sustainable leadership plan for the Service.
“Abeide had expressed regret that the 2023 Nigeria Customs Service Act failed to stipulate this in its provisions.
Although the view of the Legal Adviser of the House Committee during the visit was that the civil service rule supersedes tenure for the Customs CG, the League is of the view that this argument does not hold water for obvious reasons.
The House Committee, in its reform should be reminded that the Central Bank Governor and the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) are all government appointees whose stay in office are tenured.
“As a matter of fact, there are other agencies with such tenure, including the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) who enjoys a tenure of five years and can do a maximum of two tenures.
We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to consider the Customs Act amendment with the provisions for the position of the CGC to be tenured either for four years or five years, with a single tenure, at worse scenario.
“With such time, the CGC on assuming office would be able to plan development efforts, execute some of them before leaving office, while mentoring successors for sustainable management”.