Customs officers get 14 days to declare assets.

Officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS have been given 14 days to make full disclosure of their assets.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hammed Ali (Rtd) said that the measure was to show transparency and compliance with the rule of law.

The Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Mr Wale Adeniyi disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

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

” 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.

“All officers are to comply with the directive within 14 days,” the circular said.

According to the statement, the directive is in compliance with The Bank Employees Declaration of Assets Act Cap B1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. 

The Act provides for assets declaration by all bank employees, and empowers the President to extend its application to other categories of persons.

The statement also cited Section 12 (1) which states that the provision of this Act should apply to the Comptroller-General, Deputy Comptroller-General, Assistant Comptroller-General, Chief Collector, Principal Collector and other officers , staff or employees of customs as apply to a chief executive or an employee of a bank.

NAN reports that the Comptroller-General observed that many officers had not complied with the provisions of the Act over the years, adding that the 14-day ultimatum for compliance would be strictly enforced.

NAN