By Dipo Awojobi – The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has ordered all its officers to declare their assets within 14 days.
A press release signed by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Wale Adeniyi, said all officers of the NCS 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 Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and addressed to all Deputy Comptrollers-General, Zonal Coordinators and Customs Area Controllers. All Officers are to comply with the directive within 14 days,” the statement reads in part.
According to the statement, 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.
Though 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) 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 added that the Comptroller-General observed that many Officers have not complied with the provisions of the act over the years, stating that the 14-day ultimatum for compliance will be strictly enforced.
Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may seek extradition of the former comptroller-general of Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Dikko from Dubai if he fails to honour its invitation this week. from Dubai if he fails to honour its invitation this week.
