By GODWIN ORITSE
THE Reconstituted Presidential Task Force on the reform of the Nigeria Customs Service has expressed concern over the delay in implementing the recommendations contained in its report to reforms the agency.

In a letter to the Minister of Finance, the Committee noted that despite the robust and critical recommendations contained in its report, there is no coordinated and logical approach to the implementation of the recommended reform.

In the letter which was dated October 8th 2011, the Committee also noted that Customs leadership is implementing  only parts of the recommendation that are favourable to its current management.

The Committee is of the opinion that if the reforms exercise is not carried as recommended, the entire project would amount to a waste of time.

The Committee is also worried about the selective approach adopted by the management of the Customs service adding that  there is a need to put a  sustainable structure that will strengthen the operations of the agency.

Parts of the letter reads “ We are constrained to express concern that in spite of the submission of our report and in light of the robust and critical recommendations outlined therein, there is no coordinated and logical approach to the implementation of the recommended reform while there appear to be selective implementation of our recommendations by the Nigeria Customs Service.

“The implementation framework that will lay the foundation of the reform  is encapsulated  in the recommendation as detailed in the report under the sub heads – Composition of the Board of Customs,Management structure, function of the NCS, operations, strategic management, and capacity building/ training”.

Members of the Committee are asking the current Minister of Finance Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo Iwuala for audience to discuss of implementing and developing strong and sustainable Customa service for the Nigeria nation.

In the letter titled “request for a meeting by the members of the Reconstituted Presidential task force on the reform of the Nigeria Customs Service with the honourable minister of Finance” members of the Committee further noted that the single one stop shop recommended from cargo clearance was at a point hijacked by people who do not have an idea of the project was to be run.

The Committee whose  terms of reference was to harmonize the previous report, evolve a blue print for adopted recommendations and guide the implementation of the approved recommendations, however called for a road map and time line towards implementing and achieving  the proposed reforms.

It was gathered that the current management of the service is not comfortable with most of the Committee’s recommendations as some of them are at variance with some of the actions of the leadership of the service particularly in the areas of qualification and promotions.