A two time governorship aspirant in Edo State, High Chief Jacob Idinye has taken a swipe at critics who are always quick in casting aspersions on the activities of Comptroller-General (CG) of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Wale Adeniyi (MFR) especially on issues relating to tax waivers.
Idinye disclosed this on Thursday, February 29, 2024 when he was accosted by journalists at the Eko hotel conference hall during a policy dialogue session.
The Edo born politician who is also a winner of over 32 different professional awards in Maritime Reporting and Customs activities maintained that Mr Wale Adeniyi is a thorough bred public servant who has raised the bar of efficiency in public service while also noting that those who lack the knowledge of tax waivers should stop raising incendiary comments that could overheat the polity.
He said,
“What really bothers me in this country is how neophytes engage in endless debate and rhetorics on topics they have no idea about. Everyone speaks on economics, tax waivers etc, without deep knowledge of basic economics. We talk without basis, foundation and knowledge. We take every discipline too simple to discuss with a wave of hand. If there is anything to be taken so seriously, it is the issue of tax waivers and the role of Customs Service and Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders to deepen economic growth and prosperity. Making incendiary comments to overheat the polity will do no one any good, everyone must learn to be socially responsible and patriotic.
“The reality is that Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, the comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service has raised the bar of public service, revenue generation and fiscal discipline. Under his visionary leadership he is now targeting N5.79 trillion as revenue in 2024, and front all indications his key performance indicators (KPIs) have showed that he will surpass what was initially projected for the year in view.
“I must also emphasize that, there is nothing wrong with waiver which is one of the instruments used by government all over the world to achieve specific set goals and objectives in line with their economic aspirations. Meanwhile in Nigeria, it is the Federal Ministry Finance that issues waivers, Customs don’t. The reality is that Customs can’t even implement a thousand naira waiver for anyone, the Finance Act 2022 (amended) is very clear about this without ambiguity.
“Nigeria has several tax incentives such as pioneer status incentives, export Incentives, rural location incentives, and many others targeted at deepening local companies and attracting foreign investment. Tax relief has been an instrument the government uses to encourage industrialization and productivity at the expense of revenue contribution. The tax incentives are administered via Company Income Tax (CIT), and Value Added Tax (VAT). Petroleum Production Tax (PPT) and Customs Duty with different criteria. Today we cannot deny the fact that tax exemptions have aided the development of some industries and strengthened bilateral relationships with other countries.
“However, the way and manner it is granted in the past years has raised fundamental questions about transparency and accountability. In fact, the use of waiver back then was reportedly bastardised to the extent that successive administrations in the country was said to have turned it into an avenue for monumental graft as top government officials connive with some elements in the private sector to corner billions of naira into their pockets and that of cronies. But thankfully there is new a Sheriff in town un the Nigeria Customs Service who has changed the narrative and has patriotically helped to justify the need for tax waivers in the larger interest of Nigeria’s economy. The CG of Customs must indeed be commended and not vilified. With people like Mr Adeniyi, Nigeria will work and make it to it’s destination which will be an envy for all.
“Meanwhile, without prejudice or bias, I can conveniently say that President Bola Tinubu truly has a knack for picking competent, brilliant, fit, and proper people into positions of authority, his choice of Mr. Wale Adeniyi, as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, was very well thought out, and that decision is today yielding many positive results.” Idinye said.
