The lawmaker representing Osun East senatorial district in the 10th Senate, Francis Fadahunsi, has kicked against the planned merger of the nation’s major revenue generating agencies, stressing that it was against international best practices.
Fadahunsi, who retired as the deputy comptroller general of the Nigerian Customs Service, gave the commendation in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said, “It is not proper to merge the NCS with the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, under one body. It will encourage massive corruption, ineptitude, and gross inefficiency.
“There are various measures to achieve revenue boost if experienced and capable hands are brought on board to head the agencies.”
He added, “The appointment of competent, incorruptible professionals, as we have witnessed in the NCS, would help the President to boost the nation’s revenue in the affected agencies.
“The proposed merger will lead to conflict of interest and in the process, the purpose for which the plan was meant to achieve will be defeated.
“So, the agencies, particularly the NCS, have to be left alone as an independent body, just as it is being practised all over the World.”
The Senator further urged the leadership of the 10th National Assembly to complement the efforts of the Tinubu administration by also ensuring effective oversight of the federal agencies.
He stated, “Experienced lawmakers who are knowledgeable in revenue generation should be appointed into committees that would oversee the key revenue generating agencies.
“This is a very critical period where all arms of government should embrace competence instead of making appointments purely on political patronage.
“In the last eight years, for instance, the NCS had a retired soldier as the CGS, while the Senate also had another retired soldier as the Chairman of the Committee, which is carrying out oversight functions on the agency.”
“I wonder how anybody would expect a miracle in that regard,” Fadahunsi added.
He lamented that Tinubu’s predecessor had mortgaged the country through the concession arrangements, which, according to him, had automatically transferred the nation’s revenue to private pockets.
He kicked against the planned merger of the nation’s major revenue generating agencies, stressing that it was against international best practices.
The Osun East also hailed the appointment of a serving officer as the acting Comptroller General of the NCS, saying it was a right step in the right direction
On Monday, President Bola Tinubu appointed Bashir Adewale Adeniyi as the acting Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs.
Adeniyi possesses over 30 years of experience in Customs administration, covering strategic and operational responsibilities.
He replaced a retired Army colonel, Hameed Ibrahim Ali, who was responsible for the overall management and direction of the Service in the last eight years.
Ali was also the accounting officer of the service.
Fadahunsi, who was the vice – chairman, Committee on Customs and Excise in the 9th Senate, expressed hope that the nation’s revenue would experience a boost with Adeniyi’s appointment.
He said, “It is customary with the military government to appoint a soldier to head the NCS. That was what we experienced throughout the eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari, despite being a civilian President.
“I am grateful to President Bola Tinubu for heeding our genuine calls by appointing a core professional to head the NCS.”
Source: The Punch