The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has advocated that the operation of the National Single Window (NSW) be excised from the Nigeria Customs Service and be domiciled in the Ministry of Finance for effective coordination and control.
The National President of the association, Prince Olayiwola Shittu who made this known at the Public Hearing on the Draft Amendments to the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) conducted by the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff at Abuja on Monday also kicked against the provision that sought to make the Comptroller-General of Customs the Chairman of the Customs Board.
Shittu contended that just like others before, the Minister of Finance rather than the Comptroller-General of Customs should chair the Board in line with what obtains in other customs administration globally.
He also spoke extensively about the touting in the ports, recognition of licensed Customs Agents as Customs brokers as obtained globally, a guaranteed membership of ANLCA on the Customs Board as the immediate constituency, a CEMA restricting the practice of customs brokerage to Nigerians alone among others.
Declaring the hearing opened, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki said that the public hearing was essentially to gather information from especially stakeholders, for relevant inputs into the framing of the bill that was expected to be favorable to almost all the stakeholders.
On his part, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Hope Uzodimma outlined the mandate of the of the committee which he said was primarily to enact a bill capable of enhancing revenue generation, block leakages, ensure compliance to trade regulations/policies, punish defaulters, ensure good welfare packages for Customs personnel among other objectives.
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