NCJTFLCA Petitions CG of Customs Over Chronic Lateness of NCS Personnel to Duty
By Mcanthony Onuoha
Aggravated by continued lateness to duty, an advocacy group, National Compliance Joint Taskforce of Licensed Clearing Agents (NCJTFLCA), has petitioned the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, asking him to take urgent action.
A copy of the letter titled “Formal Complaint on Chronic Lateness to Duty by Personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service and the Adverse Impact on Trade Facilitation and the Nigerian Economy,” was made available to the media by NCJTFLCA Headquarters.
The group lamented the lackadaisical attitude of some Customs personnel to duty, describing it as the height of impunity and sabotage.
The letter read in part:
The National Compliance Joint Taskforce of Licensed Customs Agents (NCJTFLCA), an umbrella body of licensed customs agents and compliant officers operating across Nigeria’s seaports, airports, and border stations, writes to formally lodge a complaint regarding the persistent lateness to duty by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service.
“As direct Stakeholders who interface daily with the service for cargo examination, documentation and release, our members bear the immediate brunt of this practice. We are compelled to bring this matter to your attention in the interest of the national revenue, trade facilitation and economic growth.”
According to the group,” contrary to the official resumption time of 8:AM, as established in the Federal Government public service rules, it has become common practice for many NCS officers to remain non- operational until after 11: AM on working days. Officers of several rank and file, and in some cases, senior officers up to the rank of Deputy Comptroller, do not report for duty until 12 noon or beyond.”
“The trend is prevelent at, but not limited to Apapa Area Command, Tincan Island Port Command, MMIA Command, Ikeja, Seme, Idiroko and other border Commands”, the group stated.
