The Senate intervention is in view of the announcement of one month grace by the Comptroller General of Customs for all vehicle owners to validate their import duty papers.
The attention of the Senate was drawn to the customs’ directive in a motion brought by the Deputy Majority Senate Leader, Senator BALA IBN NA’ALLAH, urging his colleagues to look into the justification of such move.
Supporting the motion, Senator DINO MELAYE of the APC for Kogi West, said it was impossible to import and clear a vehicle without the knowledge and collaboration of Nigeria Customs officers.
Senator MELAYE noted that it would be wrong to force Nigerians to pay for the incompetence of the Nigeria Customs Service.
In his ruling, the Senate President, Senator BUKOLA SARAKI said the Senate has a responsibility to ensure that the welfare of the Nigerian masses is protected.
Following the development; the Senate directed the Customs to suspend the move against vehicles without import duty papers until its Comptroller-General HAMEED ALI appears before the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise.
In the meantime; a Bill for Act on Secured Transactions, Registration and Regulation of Security Interest in Movable Assets has passed first reading in the Senate.
The bill, which seeks to enhance small scale business, finance movable assets and create a means for collateral, ?was sponsored by Senator RAFIU IBRAHIM.
Another Bill seeking to repeal the National Health Insurance Scheme Act, which I sponsored by Senator OLANREWAJU TEJUOSO, also passed first reading on the floor of the Senate in plenary today.
