Senate Mandates Customs: Remit N62.2 Billion to Federation Account

The Senate Committee on Public Account, led by Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, has directed the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to transfer a sum of N62.2 billion to the federation account. This decision emerged after a meeting held in Abuja, where committee members briefly addressed the press.

Senator Wadada Aliyu stressed that the reports from the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF) should be viewed as constitutional obligations rather than punitive measures or witch-hunts. The goal is to enhance accountability and transparency in the operations of public agencies.

Highlighting the committee’s concerns with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Aliyu stated, “The NPA has been found wanton on the AGF’s annual report and also erred on the status enquiry. There are issues that arose in the Boney, Calabar, and Lagos Channels Management.” The committee had communicated these issues to the NPA management, but some responses were lacking.

The committee observed a lack of attendance by NPA management officers during the meeting, except for a significantly late arrival by the General Manager, who cited medical reasons. Aliyu expressed further concern about other debts, such as shipping dues, amounting to approximately $68 million, emphasizing that these funds were not implicated in the observed anomalies.

Concerned about the non-responsive attitude of the NPA, the committee issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the management to appear before them or face legal consequences.

Similarly, the committee identified financial irregularities within the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and directed the agency to remit around N64 billion to the federation account. Despite accepting the NCS’s request for additional time until December 19th, 2023, to provide all requested remittance receipts, the committee maintained its stance on the necessity of compliance.

In light of these developments, it is crucial for agencies like the NPA and NCS to prioritize transparency, accountability, and prompt response to audit reports to uphold their constitutional obligations and contribute to good governance in Nigeria. InfoStride News will continue to monitor and report on these developments as they unfold.