The management of Nigeria Customs Service is jittery over the looming restructuring that the money-spinning agency may experience before the end of this year, sources have hinted.
The anxiety is fuelled by the fact that the National Assembly’s review of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) as is being canvassed vy a section of the legislature is rumoured as being capable of causing a major upset in the system.
The management of Nigeria Customs Service is jittery over the looming restructuring that the money-spinning agency may experience before the end of this year, sources have hinted.
The anxiety is fuelled by the fact that the National Assembly’s review of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) as is being canvassed vy a section of the legislature is rumoured as being capable of causing a major upset in the system.
A member of the House of Representatives committee on customs who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity because the House is still debating it, hinted that the new CEMA will upstage a lot of things in the Customs.
The CEMA review apart, the current era of engagement of destination inspection agents is due to end by December, when the three service providers are expected to hand over to the Nigeria Customs Service.
According to the law maker, the National Assembly is not unmindful of this, and that is why the review of existing legislation must take into cognizance the fact that a new Customs must be born, so as to equip them for the challenge of destination inspection.
“The Customs as it is presently cannot effectively handle the task of destination inspection, I am not very sure that their current orientation can match the demands of taking over the jobs of the inspection agents”, he stated.
Already, the fear of what is coming is hitting the top echelon of the service, even though no one was willing to talk about it.
A senior officer told Shipping Position Daily last week that most officers believe that the incumbent Comptroller General, Alhaji Dikko Abdualhi has done well for the service and that there are fears that the looming restructuring may consume him.
Another source told our correspondent last week that apart from the CEMA review and the imminent disengagement of the destination inspection agents in December, there report of the committee headed by Dr Achnivu is still before the minister of finance.
The totality of these is weighing the service down and it is only a matter of time before it caves in, a source predicted and added that such pressure do come through
a crack in the management team.
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