Senate passes N238.15b budget for Nigeria Customs

The Senate, on Tuesday at plenary, passed the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) 2020 budget of N238.15 billion amid dissenting views by some senators.

The passing of the budget followed the presentation of a report on the budget by the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff for consideration.

Latest: Weed out the unscrupulous elements who are criminals but using motorcycle riding as a smokescreen

Some of the senators at plenary had raised concerns that budget report presented by the Senate Committee was not detailed.

The senators had noted that the report presented by the Committee Chairman, Sen. Francis Alimikhena was not tidy, noting that some of the figures were not adding up.

They also noted that the NCS like others Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have for the past six years not submitted their audited reports.

The senators, who kicked against the report, argued that Customs cannot be getting seven per cent from revenue collected, two per cent from all Value Added Tax (VAT), allocation from Federation Account and other revenues and still be receiving allocation from the Federation Account.

Sen.Gabriel Suswam said before the Customs budget could be passed, proper explanation should be made, so that the Senate would understand why some figures were not adding up.

Sen. Solomon Olamilekan had earlier observed that the seven per cent allocated to Customs from revenue generated was enough to defray its expenditure.

He, however, said NCS was still drawing funds from the Federation Account despite the allocation of seven per cent.

But Sen.Adamu Alerio in his contribution however urged the Senate to passe the budget given the steering performance of NCS in revenue generation in 2019 and improved welfare of its personnel.

Earlier, Sen. Alimikhena while presenting the committee’s report explained that the proposal was based on Federal Government’s Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

He said a total expenditure of N238.15 billion was been proposed for the 2020.

Highlights of the budget proposal, according to him includes, the establishment of the E-Customs Project through massive deployment of information communication technology to eliminate personal interface in customs operations.

“The implementation of the Nigeria Customs Service Salary Structure for 15,892 officers and men of the Service; the recruitment of three thousand two hundred (3,200) officers and men and their training among others.

In his remarks after the passage of the budget, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan said: “We expect MDAs to present their audited accounts before the end of the year especially towards the end of December or at least the first quarter of the year. Thenationonlineng