Speaking when the Senate Committee on Finance visited the Service as part of the oversight function of the lawmakers, Abdullahi noted that the Destination Inspection service providers almost caused N90 billion revenue leakage last year due to underpayments.
He said the increase in revenue represents 10 percent of the total collection for the year, even as he promised that NCS was poised to maintain the current momentum of revenue collection.
He said: “In 2011 for instance, total revenue collected was N779 billion. Total collections increased to N850 billion in 2012, out of which N90 billion came from underpayments.
“This represents 10 percent of our total collection for the year. We can then imagine the situation if Customs were to be fully in charge.”
In his remarks, Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, yesterday, disclosed that plans were underway to accelerate the passage of the Customs Excise Management Act, CEMA.
According to him, when passed, the Bill would address the funding challenges that were presently being experienced by the Service.
He explained that the 48 objections raised against the Bill have been resolved through dialogue, adding, “we have been speaking on that under-funding. We have always been saying that they (NCS) are not being properly funded.
“Very soon the Senate will consider the CEMA Bill. We believe that before long this Bill should be with the President for assent and it should not be a problem.”
