The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dropped implementation of its policy on motor duty payment which has generated so much controversies.
The Service said on Wednesday that the decision to suspend the policy, intended to generate some more money for government, followed discussions with the leadership of the National Assembly.
“Following the unnecessary tension generated as a result of misconception and misrepresentation of the Nigeria Customs Service planned motor duty payment, the leadership of the National Assembly and the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali (Rtd) met with a view to resolving the impasse,” Ali noted in a statement signed on his behalf by Joseph Attah, Acting Public Relations Officer at the Service.
“They both agreed that the proposed motor duty payment, though in line with the provision of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap C.45, LFN 2004 should be put on hold while the Senate Committee on Customs & Excise interfaces with the NCS for further discussions,” the CG further stressed.
He also noted that while payment of duty on vehicles or indeed any dutiable imported item remains a civic responsibility of every patriotic Nigerian, “NCS Management has directed that the exercise be put on hold while expressing readiness to engage the Senate Committee on further discussions to bring them on board to understand the importance of the exercise to national security and economy.”
The Nigerian Customs Service had announced a motor duty payment policy which would require all vehicle owners in the country to verify whether appropriate duties were paid on their vehicles.
The policy has been widely crticised for lack of clarity while citizens complain about the tedious process of complying, especially, since those verifications could only be done in just four locations across the country.
Nigeria’s Senate on Tuesday insisted that the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali must appear before it unfailingly in Customs uniform on Wednesday to explain the new policy.
Senate reached the decision after it rejected a letter from him, informing lawmakers about his inability to appear before them because it clashes with the weekly management meeting of the customs service
