A maritime practitioner, Mr. Lucky Amiwero has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to re-constitute the Nigeria Customs Service Board without further delay.
Amiwero who made this call in a letter he addressed to the President, copied to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and eight others and made available to Primetime Reporters stated that the re-constitution of the Board would address the short fall of fiscal policy direction that had generated controversy due to absence of a properly constituted board to direct the fiscal policy Implementation as contained in the Customs and Excise Management Act C 45 of 2004.
He observed that stakeholders as well as the industry watchers were indeed disturbed with the controversy that had been generated by recent policy, which he said was a complete set back to the economy.
Amiwero who is the Managing Director of Eyis Resources maintained that by the provision of Section 1 Sub section (1) of Nigerian Customs Service Board Act Cap. N 100 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, the Federal Ministry of Finance was to house and Control the Board as clearly stated in Section 1-(1) ‘There is hereby established under the control of the Federal Ministry of Finance, a Board to be known as the Nigerian Customs Service Board (in this Act referred to as “the Board”) which shall be responsible for the administration of the Custom and Excise Management Act’.
He stressed that the administration of the Customs and Excise Act was conferred on the Board by the provision of Section 1 (1) of the Act, which must be housed and controlled by the Federal Minister of Finance as provided in the Act.
“This is to make for ease of policy formulation and regulation as conferred on the Minister of Finance under Section 2, 3, of the Nigeria Custom Service board Act and 4, 5 18, 26-(4) 36, 57, 74,81,116,120, 138 and 156, of the Customs and Excise Management act C45 of 2004 which is to regulate the economy through proper fiscal policy direction”, he said.
He continued, “The Customs Service Board by the provision of Section 4-(1) 5-(1) is subject to the general control, authority, management, direction of the Federal Minister of Finance as state here under: 4-(1) The Board shall, subject to the general control of the Minister, be charged with the duty of controlling and managing and administration of the Customs and Excise Laws and shall collect the revenues of Customs and Excise Laws and account for them in such manner as may be directed.
“5-(1) In the exercise of the powers and duties conferred upon the Board, the board shall be subject to the authority, direction and control of the Minister and any written direction order or instruction given by him after consultation with the comptroller-general shall be carried out by the Board.
“The control, authority, direction, management and administrations is directly under the control of the Federal Minster of Finance, who regulate under the provisions of various section of the Act and issues directive as the Chairman of the Board of Nigeria Customs Service Board under section 2 of Nigeria Customs Service Board Act Cap N 100 L.F.N of 1992”.
Amiwero who is also the founding President and Chairman Board of Trustees of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) emphasized that all appointment, promotion, transfer, disciplinary, control and dismissal was the sole responsibility of the board chaired by the Minister of Finance who must rectify any dismissal, promotion, transfer among others of the any officer.
“The provision as contained in the Nigeria Customs Service Board Act requires the Board to Administer the Customs and Excise Management Act, rectify any appointment, promotion, dismissal, disciplinary control of staff and policy directive released by the Minister of Finance as Chairman of the Board and the regulatory power on import, export and excise under the Customs and Excise Management Act Section 18, 26-(4) 36, 57, 74, 76, 81, 105,111,116, 120, 138 and 156”.
He therefore underscore the urgent need to give the service direction through the legally constituted Board under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Finance in line with provision of the Nigeria Customs Service Board Act and the Customs and Excise Management Act C45 of 2004 by compliance with the provision as contained in the Nigeria Customs Service Board Act N 100 L.F.N 2004 and the Customs and Excise Management Act C45 of 2004.
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