The Senate Committee on Customs received the Nigeria Customs Service 2024 budget of N706 billion.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made the presentation to the Senate Committee.
Adeniyi assured the committee that the service will surpass the target set for it.
According to him, the revenue target for 2024 is 27.75 percent higher than the target for 2023.
The CGC promised to surpass the revenue target of 5.079 trillion in 2024.
While defending the 2024 budget of N706.43 billion, Adeniyi explained that attention will be on consolidating projects from the past, increasing staff welfare by improving and motivating officers’ performance, and integrating technologies into Customs processes.
Adeniyi, on the officers’ welfare, mentioned that they will be encouraged in various ways to increase efficiency and improve their well-being, adding that this would be done through awards, promotions, and payment of allowances.
Furthermore, Adeniyi outlined strategies to achieve the 2024 target which includes implementing the National Single Window championed by the Federal Ministry of Finance, strategies to harmonise and standardise Customs processes, port decongestion, collaboration with other agencies for efficiency and competitiveness, anti-smuggling operations, integrating ICT into operations, investing in capacity building, and stakeholder engagement, among others.
He emphasised supporting local production and taking food security seriously.
He said: “We intend to grant waivers to vehicle owners to pay duties within a specific time to avoid sanctions and to regularise the importation of vehicles through payment of duties.
“The service plans to recruit 1,600 personnel in 2024.
“The low figure is due to the small vacancies we have available.
“These vacancies are primarily for junior staff who will carry out Customs operations and guard duties. In subsequent years, more recruitment exercises will be carried out.”
Also, the Customs boss disclosed that the service had a shortfall of 12.62 percent in its 2023 revenue target, citing concessions in Section 99 of the Common External Tariff, import duty exemption certificates, cash crunch, general elections, and other factors affecting revenue generation negatively.
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He however gave assurance of a positive outcome in 2024.
In response, Senator Isa Jibrin, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs, applauded the head of the Customs Service for the progress and success achieved in his brief tenure in office.
He urged the Comptroller-General to perform better as the house will support him in terms of remuneration and infrastructure.
