By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Wale Adeniyi has said that the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023 will strengthen the capacity of the service to achieve the fiscal policies of government.

He stated this in Abuja during a sensitization programme on the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023 for the members of the Management of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

The new law was assented by former President Muhammadu shortly before the end of the last administration.

The operation of Customs was governed by the Customs and Excise Management Act Cap C45 LFN 2004 (CEMA) which was enacted 1960.

Speaking at the event, the Acting Customs Boss commended the former President for giving his assent and President Bola Tinubu for keeping faith with the implementation of key provisions of the law.

He also said members of the 9th National Assembly were instrumental in the expeditious consideration and passage of the bill.

Adeniyi expressed optimism that the new law would address some of the defeats in the CEMA and introduce innovative solutions in the implementation of the Act.

“Under this new Legal regime, the Service has been statutorily empowered to administer and enforce the provisions of the Act; collect and account for revenue from Customs and Excise among others; promote trade facilitation; prevent smuggling activities and carryout border enforcement; and do such other things as are necessary for or incidental to the performance of the function and duties of the Service under the Act.

“These are a few highlights of the new Act. I believe that in the course of this retreat more features and provisions of the Act will be presented and discussed.

As a responsible institution, we are not unmindful of the fact that the members of the public are not yet familiar with the provisions of this Act.

“Most importantly, the new procedure, processes and the very stiff punitive provisions in the law. We are equally appreciative of the urgent need to sensitize the public on the provisions of this law to prevent the excuse of ignorance of the law, which is not a defence. The Service will continue to sensitize and educate the public on the provisions of the law and Customs procedure and processes.

“It is against this background, that we believe our charity should begin at home by first sensitizing the Management members. After this phase, other phases of sensitization that will cover all categories of sections of the Service and Public have been designed and shall be meticulously executed,” he said.

In his remarks, the 9th Assembly Chairman, Committee on Customs and Excise, Leke Abejide, explained that the reforms introduced by the new Act have a tremendous effect on every facet of the national economy and also the officers’ career progression with some enhanced level of professionalism and job motivation which has hitherto been deprived of the Service.

According to him, this new legislation further marks a significant milestone in the efforts to streamline Customs procedures, enhance trade facilitation, and foster a conducive environment for economic growth and development.

“Today every Customs Officer is assured that his labour is not going to be truncated at the peak of his career neither is he going to be denied the fruit of long, faithful and dedicated service to his/her mother land.

“The provisions of Section 14 (1) of the new Act is very instructive on professionalism, by providing appointment of a career officer from the Service to be head of management of the Service.

“I want to congratulate the newly appointed Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (MFR), for being the first partaker of this career reform exercise. I am persuaded that with your track records of selfless service to this institution, your statutory duty of overseeing the task of reforms injected into this Act would be seamlessly achieved.

“Some of the reforms injected into the Nigerian Customs Act 2023 is the enhancement of trade facilitation policies of the service, which has upgraded the status of the Service the 21st Century strategic revenue generating institution of our dream.

“Our effort is providing policies statutorily implanted, which invigorates the objectives of keeping our boarders safe and making avenues of leaked revenue accountability lean, hence this institution shall in the shortest period reap the dividends of this legal framework that gear up the ease of doing business in Nigeria”, he said.

According to him, the new legislation has introduced some new internal adjudicatory mechanism, equivalence of ADR, which simplified ways of resolving Customs disputes quickly without the technicality of court’s litigation.