House frowns at NCS, others over non appearance before investigative Committee
By Tom Okpe
The House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise has frowned at the Nigeria Custom Service, NCS, and other Government Agencies’ over its refusal on response to invitation by the House to appear before an investigative hearing on its operations and management of the nation’s borders.
The Committee, alongside the House Committee on Interior had invited the Minister of Interior, Comptroller General of Customs, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service and other stakeholders to the investigative hearing on the modernization of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The House, at two seating had ordered the Committees to investigate the modernisation project of the Nigerian Customs Service, e-customs, concession to the Trade Modernization Project, TMP, and role of Webb Fontaine in the E-Customs framework as well as the need to employ modern technology to secure Nigeria’s borders and address the challenges, posed by illegal migration and border management.
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While the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo was said to be out of the country and could not attend the session with the lawmakers, no reason was given for the absence of the Customs boss and his Immigration counterpart.
A member of the Committee, Olumide Osoba, APC, Ogun, frowned at the absence of the Chief Executives saying; “section 88 of the constitution gives the parliament, power to invite any individual to appear before it to offer explanation and clearance.
“In such instance, only the Chief Executives of the agencies are to appear before the parliament.”
As a result of the absence, Osoba said the investigative hearing cannot be held as those representing the Chief Executives are not in positions, to provide rightful answers, being sought by parliament.
Another member of the Committee on Customs, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, PDP, Rivers State, said refusal of the Head of Agencies’ was an afront on the parliament, adding that; “if they refuse to show on the next adjourned date, the Committee and the parliament should invoke its powers and recommend their removal from office.”
According to Abiante, “their refusal to honour parliamentary invitation would mean that they are either tired of the job or incompetent to carry out their assigned duties.”
In his ruling, Chairman of the House Committee on Customs, Leke Abejide, ADC, Kogi, said: “While investigative hearing on the Customs modernization has to do with improving Government Revenue, the second one deals with security of the nation.
“Despite busy schedule of the lawmakers, they made out time to carry out the required national assignment. The investigative hearing would have to be shifted to another day, preferably, after the passage of the national budget and at a time when the Chief Executives will be available to answer questions from members.
“The Committee is expected to investigate the concession of the operations of the customs to Trade Modernization Project and why Webb Fontaine that has managed the collection process are still the ones operating the system.”
They are also expected to find out due diligence, carried out in the selection of Trade Modernization Project to take over the e-customs processes from Webb Fontaine and what TMP has done with the concession as well as the number of modern scanners they have introduced to make clearing of goods easier and faster.
