Customs Comptroller-General orders officers to declare their assets

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col Hammed Ali (retd), has directed all officers of the Nigerian Customs Service to make full disclosure of their assets within 14 days.

The directive was contained in a circular signed by the CG and addressed to all Deputy Comptrollers-General, Zonal Coordinators and Customs Area Controllers.

The Customs Public Relations Officer, Mr. Wale Adeniyi, also confirmed the issuance of the directive on Friday night in a statement.

The statement said the need for officers of the NCS to declare their assets was part of a new measure to encourage transparency and compliance with the rule of law.

The statement read in part, “All Officers and Men of the Nigeria Customs Service are to make full disclosure of their assets in a new measure put in place to push transparency and compliance with the rule of law.

“The directive on Assets Declaration is contained in a Circular, signed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hammed Ali (retd) and addressed to all Deputy Comptrollers-General, Zonal Coordinators and Customs Area Controllers.

“All Officers are to comply with the directive within 14 days.  According to the Circular, the directive on Assets Declaration is in compliance with ‘The Bank Employees Declaration of Assets Act Cap B1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004?”

It said although the Act provides for asset declaration by all bank employees, it also empowers the President to extend its application to other categories of persons.

Specifically, Section 12 (1)  of the act states that, “The provision of this Act shall apply to the Comptroller-General, Deputy Comptroller-General, Assistant Comptroller-General, Chief Collector, Principal Collector and other Officer, Staff or employee of the Nigeria Customs Service as the apply to a Chief Executive or an employee of a Bank.”

The statement said the CG observed that over the years, many officers have not complied with the provisions of the Act, stating that the 14-day ultimatum for compliance will be strictly enforced.

The Punch