The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has submitted a proposed budget of N1.13 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year, aimed at enhancing revenue generation and boosting operational efficiency across its services.
Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Finance, Administration, and Technical Services, Mr. Bello Jibo, made the presentation on Monday in Abuja during a budget defence session before the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The proposed budget breaks down as follows:
- N247.1 billion (21.8%) for personnel costs
- N239.9 billion (21.1%) for overhead expenses
- N645.4 billion (56.9%) for capital projects
Jibo urged lawmakers to approve the proposal to enable the service to function seamlessly in 2025.
He also reviewed the service’s performance in 2024, stating that the NCS generated N6.105 trillion, exceeding its N5 trillion target. This feat, he said, was achieved despite economic hurdles, waivers, and a decline in excisable goods, attributing the success to enhanced efficiency and staff dedication.
Lawmakers Raise Concerns Over 2024 Budget Implementation
Despite the revenue performance, legislators expressed dissatisfaction with the poor implementation of the 2024 budget.
Chairman of the House Committee on Customs and Excise, Rep. Leke Abejide (ADC–Kogi), decried the underfunding of critical budgetary areas. According to him:
- Only 43.5% of personnel costs were executed
- 46.3% of overhead allocations were utilized
- 45.6% of capital project funds were implemented
Describing the underperformance as “astonishing,” Abejide questioned why budget execution was so low despite Customs exceeding its revenue targets. He also pointed to the zero remittance from the 60% share of the 1% Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS), which is intended to fund Customs operations.
The committee demanded detailed explanations from the NCS regarding the missing CISS funds and urged the agency to improve budget transparency and accountability moving forward. Nonetheless, members praised the service for its record-breaking revenue generation.
