The House of Representatives on Tuesday, approved N369.1 billion as the budget of the Nigerian Customs Service for the year ending 31st December, 2022.
The House approved the budget, after considering the report presented by Hon. Leke Joseph Abejide, Chairman of the Committee on Customs and Excise Duties.
The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, passed N214.29 billion for capital projects; N108.85 billion as personnel cost; and N45.89 billion for overhead cost.
The House considered and recommended that the 7% cost of collection for 2022, of One Hundred and Fifty-One Billion, Eight Hundred and Forty One Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty-Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Forty-Eight Naira (N151, 841,862,748.00) only, being projected revenue available to the service be approved for the Nigeria Customs Service.
Also recommended, was the 2% VAT share for 2022 of Nigeria Custom Service from Fourteen Billion, Nine Hundred and Thirty-Nine Million, Two Hundred and Ninety-Two Thousand, One Hundred and Fifty-One Naira (N14,939,292,151.00) only, available to the service be approved.
The 60% share of the Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS) of Sixty Billion, One Hundred and Twenty-One Million, Two Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand, Five Hundred and Fifty-Six Naira (N60,121,256,556.00) was also not left out for approval for the Nigeria Customs Service.
The Retained income of One Hundred and Fourteen Billion, Three Hundred and Eighty-Five Million, Four Hundred and Eighty-Six Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Three Naira (N114,385,486,833.00) is also to be approved for the Nigeria Customs Service for 2022 fiscal year;
The Share of Excess Target (in 2021) of Twenty-Seven Billion, Eight Hundred and Forty-Eight Million, One Hundred and Ninety-Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Sixty-Two Naira (N27,848,192,362.00) was also included for approval for the Nigeria Customs Service for 2022 fiscal year.
The house admonished that the Nigeria Custom Service, takes a leaf from the Nigeria Army and engage in Corporate Social Responsibility as that could be a reason for less reported attacks and acrimony from their host communities as compared to Customs who are constantly attacked by smugglers and their hosts as they are seen as outcasts who only want to benefit from their domain at the expense of their welfare.
