House seeks customs help on act amendment

The House Committee wants help from customs officers to change the Customs Act. Chairman Leke Abejide said media reports about a four-year term for the Customs boss were wrong. During the last Assembly, they suggested the President should pick a career officer not lower than Assistant Comptroller-General to serve four years. Customs officials changed this idea because it went against civil service rules. Police kept their similar rule, which the President signed into law.

Abejide plans to bring back this suggestion into current changes. He worried that making an Assistant Comptroller the top boss might force senior officers to leave their jobs unnecessarily. The chairman explained that someone appointed today but retiring tomorrow would still complete a full four-year term. He asked officers to back the committee's goals to match customs with other similar agencies. The review follows the constitution, as Section 18 allows the House to check customs records.

The president extended Michael Awe's job for one year based on good work. As Area Controller at Murtala Muhammed Command, Awe reported N181 billion earnings in 2024, up from N90.3 billion last year. The first quarter of 2025 brought in N45.7 billion, slightly more than the same time in 2024. Major seizures included dangerous drugs, ammunition, military gear, drone packages, cannabis, dried sea cucumber, and donkey parts. The biggest catch was 55 semi-automatic shotguns.
 

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