Here is a guide on everything to know about the Nigeria Customs ranks, salary structures, and symbols. This article would enlighten you about Nigeria Customs Service. So, let’s get started!
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) is an agency that was created in 1891, with T. A. Wall, as the first Comptroller General. Nigeria Customs Service has undergone a series of transformations and rebranding and currently, it is under the Federal Ministry of Finance. It is made up of six departments namely:
- Economic Relating Research and planning
- Finance Administration and Technical Services
- Strategic Research and Policy.
- Excise and industrial incentives.
- Enforcement and drugs
- Tariff and Trade.
The Comptroller General of Customs is the head of the Nigeria Customs Service and all the departments that are in it. There are also Deputy Comptroller-Generals that head each of the six departments.
The Deputy Comptroller-Generals have Assistant Comptroller-Generals that handle each division under them. The Comptrollers are in charge of the units under each division. While, the Assistant Comptroller-General in the headquarters, gives direct reports to the Comptroller-General, with other Special Units and four other Assistant Comptroller-Generals in various zones, which runs different area commands under their various jurisdictions. The current Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service is Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd).
Nigeria Customs Service headquarters is located at Abidjan Street, Wuse, Zone 3,
Abuja.
Functions Of The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)
- Collection of Revenue (Import /Excise Duties & other Taxes /Levies) and accounting for the same
- Obstruct contraband like weapons and illegal drugs
- Security functions
- Verify travelers and their baggage, mail, and cargo; check and collect Customs duties alongside other taxes on Goods and Services
- Generating statistics for planning and Budgetary purposes
- Enforce import and export restrictions and prohibitions
- Monitoring Foreign Exchange utilization etc.
- Guard businesses against illegal trade malpractices
- Anti-Smuggling activities: fighting against smuggling activity and counteracting customs fraud
- Work closely with other government bodies to achieve the sole aim of developing the country
- Manifest processing
- Collect precise export and import data for economic statistical usage and planning
- Licensing and registration of Customs Agents
- As the protectors of Nigerian borders, they use intelligence and risk assessment to target their physical checks on containers, travelers, or vessels. They carry out investigations and audits and prosecute offenders
- Engaging in Research, Planning, and Enforcement of Fiscal Policies of Government
- Registration and designation of collecting banks
- Working in collaboration with other government agencies in all approved ports and border stations
Ranks In NCS
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) works on the principle of ranks. The ranking system in the Nigeria Customs Service varies from other military or paramilitary bodies in the country. Therefore, rank is a vital factor in salary payments and the responsibilities of officials. Below, are the various hierarchy in the Nigeria Customs Service, beginning from the highest-ranked officer to the least-ranked officer.
- Comptroller General.
- Deputy Comptroller General.
- Assistant Comptroller General.
- Comptroller.
- Deputy Comptroller.
- Assistant Comptroller.
- Chief Superintendent Customs Officer.
- Deputy Superintendent Customs Officer.
- Assistant Superintendent of Customs I.
- Assistant Superintendent of Customs II.
- Inspector of Customs.
- Assistant Inspector Of Customs.
- Custom Assistant.
Ranks it would interest you to know that the highest rank is the Comptroller General. These ranks allow for due process in the system. This way officials’ growth is monitored.
Salary Structure(Annually)
In the Nigerian Customs Service, salaries are paid based on the Consolidated Paramilitary Structure (CONPASS). This is the standard structure of payment in the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Federal Fire Service in Nigeria, and every other paramilitary agency in Nigeria, salaries for customs officers are paid according to rank. This means that the higher your rank the higher your pay.
- Comptroller General: N2,870,000 – N2,500,000.
- Deputy Comptroller General: N2,570,000 – N2,400,000.
- Assistant Comptroller General: N2,470,000 – N2,280,000.
- Comptroller: N2,070,000 – N1,880,000
- Deputy Comptroller: N1,770,000 – N 1,580,000.
- Assistant Comptroller: N1,157,000 -N1,1480,000.
- Chief Superintendent of Customs I: N1,370,000 – N1,280,000.
- Deputy Superintendent of Customs II: N1,270,000 – N1,180,000.
- Assistant Superintendent of Customs: N1,070,000 – N980,000.
- Inspector of Customs: N970,000 – N880,000.
- Assistant Inspector Of Customs: N870,000 – N780,000.
- Custom Assistant: N770,000 – N680,000.
Benefits And Allowances Of Customs Officers
- House maintenance
- Torchlight
- Hazards
- Transport
- Meal subsidy
- Uniform maintenance
- Utility
- Plain-Cloth allowance
- General Services
- Personal Servant (entitled officers only)
- Furniture allowance
- Hardiness allowance
- Detective
This is why Year after year, thousands of youths apply to join the Nigerian Customs Service, but few, and most qualified, are recruited for the job. The sensitivity of the agency and the training involved have made it so that only accountable and responsible people are employed.