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‘Importers May Shun Our Ports’, Obi Urges FG To End Customs FX Rates Inconsistency
By Emmanuel Agaji
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has urged the Federal Government to end the inconsistency in duty charges by the Nigeria Customs Service.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday morning, Obi said the inconsistency in duty charges is affecting the general business atmosphere in the country.
He warned that if this situation is not corrected, importers in the country may resort to using ports of nearby countries, a situation which he noted will leave the Nigerian ports under-productive, and further deepen the economy into a worse situation as a result of loss of revenue.
Obi said, “I wish to urgently call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to end the inconsistency in duty charges as it is affecting the general business atmosphere in the country.
“The federal government should stop the arbitrary and ever-increasing customs duties as it is now negatively impacting businesses and the cost of items, and this portends a huge danger to the economy.
“A situation where at the point of initiating importation, Form M and other documents related to importation are based on a particular rate of exchange, for example, N1000 to $1, being the prevailing exchange rate at the time which the importer of goods was used to calculate the entire process, from the import initiation to receipt of goods in his warehouse.
“Then suddenly when the goods arrive in Nigeria, and duties are calculated at different rates, say N1400 to $1, it becomes a serious business challenge that results in business losses. Worse still, it directly fuels the inflationary spike which is the basis of increasing cost of goods and living. Such arbitrary charges will obviously lead to further closure of businesses, and attendant job losses.
“This is because at the time of the initiation of the business, calculations, including duties, have been made based on the prevailing exchange rate, and the prevailing market prices.
“If this situation is not corrected, our importers may resort to using ports of nearby countries, a situation that will leave our ports under-productive, and further deepen our economy into a worse situation as a result of loss of revenue,” the post partly read.
The former Anambra State Governor also advised the government to show consistency in its policies as this will help with economic forecasting and business planning.
He said that businesses are dying, and manufacturers are shutting down because of the poor and inconsistent economic policies of the government.
“All efforts of the government should be directed at supporting businesses, especially those in the manufacturing sector, to keep their businesses afloat and keep the economy growing, as the small business sector remains the most critical engine of economic growth.
“We cannot afford to target high customs revenues at the expense of the survival of local businesses, employment and reasonable cost of living,”
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LET THE CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE BE*
The hurriedly written press statement by the embattled Patrick Osadebamwen and OCHIAKA UGWU recently impeached as Exco of the FCT Council of the NUJ is really sad, appalling and completely unwarranted.
It is a brazen attempt by them to usurp the powers of the National Secretariat of the Union.
Article 5(9c, d) of the NUJ Constitution is so unambiguous that does not need any interpretation.
Article 5 sub section 9(C) states inter alia; “The Credentials Committee at the National level shall act independently of the President, National Secretary and any other National Officers, while the Credentials Committee at the State Council level shall be independent of State officers of the Union but shall be responsible and answerable to the National Secretariat.
5 (9d) The Credentials Committee at the State Council level shall be nominated by the State Congress subject to the approval of the National Secretariat.”
From the constitutional provisions, it is clear that the Committee is not in any materia particula answerable to any ‘Executive’ Committee member of the Council but the National Secretariat. And not to the already impeached Patrick-led Exco.
It is more worrisome that this so-called cut and join chairman is oblivious of the constitution he swore to defend. What do you expect of a place -holder chairman?
More importantly, since the National Secretariat has communicated with the Committee to go ahead with its mandate, the outgoing ‘Executive’ Committee has no locus standi in the matter whatsoever.
It is also an irony to note that the outgoing Chairman and Secretary could shamelessly claim that our respected former Chairman of Council, Mr AMOS DUNIA took over proceedings of the Extraordinary Congress. Both officers are obviously having selective amnesia. It’s appears they forgot how they came cap-in-hand to beg former leaders to come to their rescue. What can be farther than the truth. Whereas, members were told at the beginning of the Monday Extraordinary Congress that the Committee of elders and former Chairmen of Council, mandated MR. DUNIA to conduct the affairs of the Congress following the VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE passed on the Patrick Osadebamwen-led Executive by the Congress the preceding Saturday.
It is really shameful that an Executive that was saved from being disgraced and booted out of office can still have the temerity to openly and outrightly dish out tissues of lies to the public. What a shame!
The question to ask remains, if Patrick Osadebamwen and OCHIAKA UGWU who has indicated interest in contesting the election, now want to act and take decisions on behalf of the National Secretariat.
Members are aware of the antics and game being played to cover up shady deals perpetrated these past six years and we are watching.
We say NO to the attempt to usurp the constitutional role of the National Secretariat by Patrick Osadebamwen and OCHIAKA UGWU.
Enough is enough!
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