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Reps kick, halt probe of Customs over absence of Minister of Interior, CG of Customs

JONAS  EZIEKE, Abuja

 

The House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise has frowned at the refusal of heads of government to respond to the invitation of the House to appear before an investigative hearing on the operations of the Nigeria Customs Service and the management of the nation’s borders.

The committee, jointly with 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 modernisation of the Nigeria Customs Service.

The House, at two sittings had ordered the committees to probe the modernisation project of the Nigerian Customs Service (E-Customs) concession to the Trade Modernization Project (TMP) and the 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.

However, while the Minister of Interior, Hon 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.

Furious over their non appearance, a member of the Committee, Hon.Olumide Osoba (Ogun,APC) frowned at the absence of these chief executives of government institutions saying that section 88 of the constitution gives the parliament the power to invite any individual to appear before it to offer explanation, adding that 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 in not in a position to provide the answers being sought by the parliament.

Another member of the Committee on Customs, Hon Awaji-Inombek Abiante ( Rivers,PDP) said the refusal of the heads of agencies was an affront 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 invitations 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, Hon.Joseph Abejide ( Kogi,ADC) said while the investigative hearing on the customs modenisation has to do with improving government revenue, the second one deals with the security of the nation.

Abejide said despite the busy schedule of the lawmakers, they made out time to carry out the national assignment, pointing out that 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 to investigate the concession of the operations of the customs to Trade Modernisation Project and why Webb Fontaine who has managed the collection process are still the one operating the system.

The House joint probe panel is also expected to find out the due diligence carried out in the selection of the Trade Modernisation 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.

 

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