The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has exonerated the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) from allegations that it failed to remit ₦62.2 billion into the Federation Account, as contained in the 2019 Audit Report of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.
The decision was reached on Tuesday during an investigative hearing involving the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who appeared before the committee to respond to 77 audit queries raised against the agency in the 2019 and 2020 audit reports.
While clearing the Customs Service on the disputed ₦62.2 billion, the committee resolved to establish an ad hoc reconciliation panel to review the remaining 76 audit queries and submit its findings for further legislative consideration.
Representatives of the Auditor-General’s Office had informed lawmakers that although the Customs Service generated over ₦691 billion in revenue in 2017, only about ₦629 billion was remitted to the Federation Account, leaving an apparent shortfall of ₦62.2 billion.
However, Adeniyi explained that the amount in question comprised levies collected on behalf of other government agencies and was therefore not required to be paid into the Federation Account.
According to the Customs Comptroller-General, the funds were incorrectly classified as unremitted revenue in the audit report.
He clarified that while some levies collected by Customs are remitted directly into the Federation Account, others—including levies on local production of wheat, textiles, and wines—are paid into designated statutory accounts established for specific purposes.
Adeniyi maintained that the ₦62.2 billion under review fell within this category and should not have been regarded as revenue owed to the Federation Account.
The Customs chief also provided explanations regarding the second and third audit queries, which committee members described as satisfactory and adequately addressed.
Some senators questioned why the issues escalated to a legislative investigation, suggesting that such discrepancies should ordinarily have been resolved through routine reconciliation between auditors and Customs officials.
Responding, Adeniyi noted that the audit period coincided with a time when relations between the National Assembly and the Nigeria Customs Service were less cordial, which may have contributed to the unresolved issues.
The newly constituted reconciliation panel is expected to work closely with Customs officials and representatives of the Auditor-General’s Office to examine the outstanding queries and reconcile all discrepancies before any further action is taken by the Senate.
The development marks a significant step in resolving long-standing audit concerns while reinforcing legislative oversight and accountability in public revenue management.
