The Senate has asked the federal government to deploy N14.2 billion in the 2023 budget for the construction of the Nigerian Customs Academy/Training School in Bauchi.
The school, according to the Senate, will provide needed professional training towards meeting the demands of the service.
It will also align the officers and personnel of the NCS with global best practices, as it will promote ethical and professional conduct.
The Upper Chamber gave the charge on Thursday following a motion sponsored by Senator Umar Shehu Buba (APC Bauchi South) and 16 other Senators.
It also tasked its Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff when constituted, to ensure an effective oversight of the academy which it said will serve as a One-Stop operational centre for the border monitoring agency.
The Sponsor of the motion disclosed that the proposed Nigerian Customs Service Training School/Academy “consists of Administrative block, Perimeter Fence, Senior Staff Housing l, Generator House, Staff Room, Classrooms, Library, Laboratories, Workshop / Dining Hall, Girls’ Hostel, Boys’ Hostel Intermediate Staff Housing, Sport Area, Chief Security Office etc, which is estimated to gulp approximately the sum of N14, 200, 000, 000 billion.”
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His motion added; “Construction of the aforestated additional Customs Training/Academy to the existing ones, will provide the needed professional training towards meeting the demands of institution in the country, thereby bringing out officers/personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service in tune with the current realities of professionalism in all their dealings and international best practices which would rid them of unprofessional and unethical conducts.
“It could be recalled that due to unethical conduct in the discharge of their duties, this revered Senate on the 19th day of July, 2023, considered a motion on reckless abuse of firearms by officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service which led to loss of innocent lives.
Therefore as contained in item 262 on the details of the Appropriation Act 2023 , the earmarked N14.2billion for construction of Service Academy and Training School , should be utilized by the Federal Government in putting the highly needed capacity enhancement institutions on ground for Customs.”
The motion enjoyed wide support from lawmakers who contributed during its debate at plenary, as the prayers accompanying it were further adopted by the Chamber.
