The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS),
Adewale Bashir Adeniyi, has assured Nigerians that the service would implement
all fiscal policies directed by the federal government to revive the economy.
Adeniyi, who spoke on a monitored live television
programme, yesterday, said the service would implement the Ministry of
Finance’s directive on the removal of import duties on steel and electric
vehicles as well as value-added tax (VAT) on LPG.
He said the service has no choice but to implement the
directives meant to engineer development in the various sectors of the economy
and to also communicate to the public to make people understand the rationale
behind the policies.
Adeniyi also affirmed that the recent review of foreign
exchange, which recently affected import and export transactions at the ports,
was done by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and not Customs. He explained
that due to the convergence of the various rates, Customs cannot independently
use exchange rates without recourse to the official rate.
According to the Customs boss, the President has not
pretended about the fact that the administration would take several very bold
decisions and reforms aimed at repositioning the Nigerian economy.
“One of the reforms that have been undertaken in the
very few days of the present administration is the merger of the FX market and
its various segments. This has repercussions and effects on our operations.
What this means is that we cannot use exchange rates independently. We cannot
use exchange rates that are not determined or specified through the merged FX
rate.
“So, what we do is just update our systems. It is not
about Customs reducing or increasing the exchange rate. We have nothing to do
with whether the exchange rate goes up or down. We follow what is prescribed
for us by the monetary authority, which is the CBN,” he said.
The Customs boss also revealed that the service was
considering implementing a salary review for officers, noting that attending to
the welfare of officers was one of his priorities.
He said the service would make provisions for insurance
cover for those that have any form of injuries, while discharging their
official duty, adding that career progression also comes under officer welfare