Ali: Customs officers must declare their assets annually

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, has directed officers of the service to henceforth declare their assets every year.

Ali issued the directive when members of the Board of Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), led by its Chairman, Mohammed Isah, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said assets declaration is compulsory for officers to lead by example.

“The law that governs Nigeria Customs Service and bankers require that we declare our assets every year, because of the nature of the type of job we do.

“This is because of our involvement in financial transactions. So, we must lead by example as there must be checks and balances.

“The continuous filling of this form will not only keep officers in check but will make them have confidence that what they are doing in their life is well-programmed and structured.

“We will showcase ourselves, and we will lead by example by enforcing this, starting from this year.

“We will need your cooperation to ensure that whatever we declare is properly scrutinised, and we want to assure you that we will support you in achieving your mandate,” he said. 

The Custom Comptroller-General urged the bureau to enlighten its officers on the benefits of declaring their asset and procedures for filling the forms.

In his remarks, the CCB Chairman, Mohammed Isah, said the service’ assistance is required to enforce the code of conduct on all public officers.

“We want to make a plea with the Nigeria Customs Service to show exemplary conduct by declaring their assets and complying with the code of ethics of all public officers. 

“I also want to urge them not to be afraid of declaring their assets, as it will help the bureau to know the public officer who is living within his or her lawful income,” Isah said. 

He said the bureau saw the NCS as a partner in the fight against corruption in the country, as they both had investigative and prosecuting powers.