NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE HEADQUARTERS,ABIDJAN STREET, ZONE 3,WUSE DISTRICT, ABUJA.
CHARTER
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VISION A Customs Service renowned for excellence in professional and innovative Service delivery to the nation and all stakeholders in the Customs operations for the attainment of Socio-economic security of its citizenry.
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MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to excel in the collection of and accounting for revenue, international trade facilitation, and the protection of the Nigeria economy by ensuring compliance with and enforcement of Government Fiscal Policy. The Service aims to achieve this, through the following activities. i. Simplifying valuation and declaration method to the understanding of officers and men of the Service, stakeholders and the general public. General ignorance on this has been identified as one of the issues that promote corruption and corrupt practices. ii. Streamlining and simplifying Customs procedure aimed at speedy clearance of cargo without jeopardizing security. Conforming with adaptable World customs Organization/World Trade organization(WCO/WTO) Operational best practices particularly in the applications of various rules and in the field of effective collaboration with Other Custom administrations worldwide.
iii.
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DETAILS OF CUSTOMERS/CLIENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS INTRA SERVICE CUSTOMERS 1. Officers and men of the Nigeria Custom Service. 2. Federal Ministry of Finance. 3. Other parastatals/Agencies under the Ministry INTER SERVICE CUSTOMERS 1. Other law enforcement Agencies. 2. Government Ministries/ Parastatals /Agencies EXTERNAL/PUBLIC CUSTOMERS 1. Importers and Exporters 2. Customs Licensed clearing Agents 3. Port Authorities/Users 4. Excise Traders 5. Manufacturers 6. World Customs Organization (WCO) 7. World Trade Organization (WTO) 8. Maritime operators 10 Pre-shipment Inspectors 11 Shippers and other Port Users 12. Freight Forwarders 13. Banks 14. Insurance and 15. The general public
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DETAILS OF SERVICES RENDERED Customs generally play a pivotal role in the economic life of any country. There is hardly any sector of the economy that is not directly or indirectly affected by the activities of Customs. The functions of the Nigeria Customs Service include, but not limited to the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Collection of Revenue (Import/Excise Duties and other taxes) and accounting for same; Anti-smuggling activities; Security functions; Generating statistics for planning and Budgetary purposes; Monitoring Foreign Exchange utilization etc.; Engaging in Research, planning and Enforcement of Fiscal policies of Government; Manifest Processing; Licensing and registration of Customs Agents; Registration and designation of collecting banks; and Working in collaboration with other government agencies in all approved ports and border stations.
In addition, the service collects revenue on behalf of other agencies. Such revenue in collection include: 1. 7% Port Surcharge: collected on behalf of Nigerian Port Authority. 2. 5% Vat: For Inland Revenue Service. 3. 2% NAC: Fund for National Automobile Commission. 4. 0.5% ETLS:ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme 5. 1% NESS: National Export Supervision Scheme 6. 10% Sugar levy: On sugar 7. 50% Rice levy: On rice 8. 1% CISS: Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme TIME FRAMES FOR SERVICES RENDERED 1. By the newly introduced fast clearing procedure, it takes 48 hours to clear goods from time of lodgment of SGD to final delivery at exit gate. 2. To process license is done periodically at times once in two or three years. Application are forwarded through the operating areas to the Headquarter, the process takes about three weeks. st st 3. While the renewal is between 1 November to 31 march of the following year and it takes about 2 weeks.
PERFORMANCE TARGETS/SERVICE IMPROVEMENT PLAN 1. Pursue the full migration to ASYCUDA++ as approved by Government. 2. Embark on full office automation of Abuja and zonal Headquarters. 3. E-mail facilities will be established for zonal headquarters and the Area Commands. 4. Computerize the collection of statistics data on revenue collection and the general computerization of the service. 5. Advise that the contract for the installation of the x-ray scanning machines for Destination Inspection should include a program for training and retraining of officers to effectively man and maintain them for the duration of the contractual period; 6. Ensure that the Service recognizes her responsibilities to comply with the provisions of the ISPS code, cooperate full with other key agencies and ascertain the safety of Ports and facilities; 7. Continue to meet with stakeholders with a view to striving towards a more responsive and efficient service delivery; 8. Strengthen collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and all security and intelligence agencies; 9. Facilitate access to, and dissemination of Customs regulatory information to the general public particularly for travelers and participants in international trade; 10. Consider the upgrading of existing facilities in the two Customs Colleges, the establishment of a Staff College, and full Professionalism in the Nigeria Customs Service; 11. Call for the formation of guidelines to eliminate inherent loopholes associated with various government industrial incentives programs; 12. Vigorously pursue collaboration and exchange of intelligence between the Service and its counterparts in other countries, engender capacity building in integration of border communities in intelligence gathering; 13. Call for adequate steps to be taken to ensure that all officers and concerned Stakeholders comply with the new clearance procedures; 14. Adhere strictly to the provisions of the Revised Arusha Declaration on Customs integrity and the Anti-corruption Act, 2000; 15. Develop zero tolerance for bribery and corrupt practices. 16. Organize annual Conference and Dinner/Award Night to motivate staff, media, private sector and individual participation in promoting Customs ideals; 17. Call for a holistic reform and re-organization of all agencies and Stakeholders concerned as is on going in the Customs Service.
OBLIGATION OF CUSTOMERS 1. Adhering to the Customs Clearing Procedures 2. Avoiding Corrupt Practices 3. Timely Clearance of Goods 4. Exposing those who hawk and sell contraband goods 5. Conducting public education lectures with and among organized unions 6. Exposing officers who engage in corrupt practices. 7. Get acquitted with the contents of the charter. 8. Follow all approved procedures for obtaining a required service 9. Attach all prescribed forms and allow reasonable time for processing requests for service. 10. Make enquiries in a courteous manner. 11. Follow any one or a combination of complaint methods contained in the charter of the service. INDICATION OF STAKEHOLDERS PARTICIPATION 1. The Banks often organize education for e.g. the recent regional trade forum organized by ECO BANK/MANEG on Thursday, August 4, 2005 at ECOWAS SECRETARIAT, Abuja. 2. The electronic and print media have regular programs and columns on Customs activities. 3. The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) has a program Tagged Customs duty 4. Participating in a forum for all stakeholders - organized by the Service. 5. Participating in Comptroller Generals Annual conference. LIMITATIONS 1. Lack of control over operating environment in the port. 2. Porous borders. 3. Lack of equipment and the welfare of custom officers. The efficiency of the officers to a large extent, however, is a function of their welfare. The service is not very competent in combating smuggling due to lack of adequate equipment, such as boats, vehicles, arms and ammunitions and radio or modern communication equipments. 4. Clearing Agents: Many of them are not known to have any repute. They cheat both their client and the Government and are largely the avenue through which most of the corrupt practices take place. They are Eveready to corrupt the custom officers so as to evade paying the correct duties even when they have collected such duties in full from their clients.
5. Government policies through budgetary processes in which stringent measures are adopted in respect of exchange control, high tariffs, concessions, prohibitions and restrictions of several import items. Regrettably, however, it is observed that this concession to our manufacturers has been abused. It has become an avenue for over invoicing and smuggling. COMPLAINT METHODS/GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES Customers are expected to use the following methods to seek redress when dissatisfied with services rendered: 1. Consult the charter of the service and follow the complaint method therein, or 2. Seek redress from the head of the service or 3. Send a complaint/petition to the complaint/suggestion box, for the attention of the service servicom unit or 4. Direct the complaints to the service Nodal officer at room first floor of the office complex, Phone No 09-5234684 or GSM No08033211929 or 5. To the Ministerial Nodal officer at room 141 first floor of the Ministry of Finance. Phone No 09-2340670 or GSM No.08033354909 or directly to 6. The Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service. Customs head quarters, Wuse zone 3,Abuja or directly to 7. The Honorable Minister, Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja.
