Nigeria Customs Service Accused of Conniving with Clearing Agents to Under-Declare Revenue

Nigeria Customs Service Accused of Conniving with Clearing Agents to Under-Declare Revenue

A social rights group, the Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative (EUYI), has accused the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and its operatives of conniving with clearing agents to compromise the revenue collection process. Despite the NCS’s claim of recording an increase in tax collection, the group alleges that the agency’s leadership and personnel have devised a system of “short pay,” where importers and their agents are allowed to pay far less than the official duties.

The EUYI described the NCS as an epicenter of “gross systemic corruption and mindless budgetary fraud.” The group cited examples of how the agency’s system is fraught with corruption, including the alleged sharing of revenue that should accrue to the federal government. The EUYI also raised concerns about the NCS’s budget, which it claims is heavily padded and fraudulent.

The group pointed out several questionable practices in the NCS’s budget, including:

– Inflated figures and inclusion of items from previous budgets
– Lack of legislative scrutiny
– Unaccounted-for balances from previous years’ releases
– Emoluments not commensurate with staff figures

The EUYI has called for an investigation into the NCS’s activities and the tenure extension of the Comptroller General of Customs. The group urges Nigerians to join the struggle to force the CG out of office and demand accountability.

What do you think about the allegations against the Nigeria Customs Service? Should there be a thorough investigation into the agency’s activities?