E-invoicing policy a calculated attempt to usurp Customs functions, says Eugene Nweke
. Govt urged to halt policy
By Fredrick Wright
The Federal Government has been urged to jettison the planned e-valuator and e-invoicing policy, which is allegedly targeted at usurping the functions of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
A concerned stakeholder and maritime expert, Dr. Eugene Nweke told SlyeNews that the policy is a designed consipiracy against the Customs to make meaning the earlier public threat to take over their functions by the finance ministry.
Nweke explained that: “By the present destination inspection regime, it is the duty of Customs to evaluate or raise value for trade goods coming into or leaving the country. When you set a parallel consultant to receive e-invoice into their portal and to reevaluate it at a set benchmark, it amounts to usurping of the Customs functions”.
Nweke faulted that Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN’s) request for 90 days extension, saying the policy should be outrightly jettisoned.
He said the initiative will increase the cost of importation into the country, with its contributory infractions to the ailing economic hardship in the land, worsening inflation and weakening the citizens purchasing power.
Noting that the Federal Government’s monetary policy was at conflict with fiscal policy, he said the move was a redesigned and reversal order aimed to take Nigeria back to Pre-Shipment Inspection ( PSI).
He said there was a glaring conflict of interest, as same supervisory minister vetoed the e-custom modernization and consented to the e-evaluator and e-invoicing.
Highlighting the other impacts of the policy, Nweke said:”The move amounts to both double handling and taxation, both at the origin port and destination port.
“The operational pedigree, performance and capacity of the contractor or consultant is not known by the Nigerian lawmakers, and the bidding process for official engagement is not in the public knowledge.
“The consultancy services fee, terms and conditions or contract value payable to the consultant is not in the public knowledge.
“No sensitization of the stakeholders prior to contractual engagements,” he stated.
Nweke urged the Federal Executive Council (FEC), and National Assembly (NASS) to take a second look at the incessant engagements of army of occupation by some of its agencies, all in the name of “food for the boys”.
