MWUN supports Customs over duty reduction of imported cars

By Uzor Odigbo

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), has thrown it’s weight behind the management of Nigeria Customs Service on the need for the federal government to  reduce duty payable on vehicles importation into the country.

President General of MWUN, Adewale Adeyanju in a chat in Lagos, noted that reduction on duty for both new and used vehicles would reduced the high rate of unemployment in the country, adding that the automotive policy introduced by previous government rendered millions of Nigerians  jobless.

The union boss who was recently, elected by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC)as trustee executive, lauded the Comptroller General of the service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), pointed that there are enormous benefits to stakeholders in the industry if the duty on imported vehicles can be reduced.

He described the customs boss as a listening leader who understand the plights of Nigerians.

Recall that the Customs boss, recently ,urged Federal Government to reduce automotive levy on imported brand new vehicles from 35 per cent to 10 per cent.
Ali explained that the automotive policy had discouraged shippers from importing cars, as they had diverted their importations to neighbouring countries.

The President Goodluck Jonathan led Federal Government in 2013, introduced the new National Automotive Policy (NAP) under which it hiked the duty payable on imported cars to 35 per cent and slammed an additional levy of another 35 percent bringing the total to 70 percent from 20 percent.

Though stakeholders kicked against the policy, the government insisted that hike in duty would encourage local manufacturing of cars .

Comrade Adeyanju, while reacting on the plea by the customs boss, stressed that “I ‘m in line with the CG of customs on duty reduction on imported vehicles because some of us cannot afford to buy  cars any more.

“But with the CG of customs coming out to advice government on the need to reduce duty of vehicles importation then I must commend him for that alone.”

The reduction of duty on cars, the MWUN boss maintained would provide jobs for the freight forwarders, concessionaires, shipping line agencies and boost revenue drive of the customs.

According to him, members of the union where affected due to the lull of vehicles importation in Nigeria adding that the RORO terminals were forced to sack a large number of workers.

He expressed optimism that the government would yield to the clarion call of the customs boss and Nigerians, saying the automotive policy introduced by the previous government was anti-people.

Adeyanju lamented that the automotive policy made millions of Nigerians jobless hence the need for review was long overdue.

“If government can yield to that advice by the customs boss then I can tell you that dockworkers will benefit from it, shipping companies will reap from it same goes to the terminal operators and other sub sector operators in the industry.

“The issue of smuggling of cars into Nigeria will reduce because the importers will patronize our ports. Therefore I want to align with the Comptroll er General of Customs on this.”