Nigeria Customs Allocates 4% Wage Bill to CSR

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has committed approximately 4% of its annual wage bill to finance the “Customs Cares” initiative, a strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR) program aimed at fostering inclusive growth and creating a sustainable impact in communities where the service operates.

Speaking at the official launch of the initiative, Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale, emphasised that the program would be implemented in phases, aligning with traditional CSR frameworks. He highlighted its multi-dimensional approach, which focuses on addressing critical social, educational, and infrastructural challenges in underserved communities across Nigeria.

“Through strategic partnerships with local stakeholders, government agencies, and international development organisations, “Customs Cares” aims to deliver measurable, long-term benefits that empower citizens and strengthen civic sustainability.

“This initiative is strategically aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasises holistic national development through targeted interventions in critical sectors. The programme is intended to support the 8 priority areas outlined in the agenda while simultaneously advancing the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Inspired by the 2 frameworks.“

The customs boss explained that the initiative is focusing on six key pillars by implementing a rich mix of activities that will be carried out in all areas of our operation, including the border areas.

“We have prioritised education as our initial focus because we recognise that developing human capital is fundamental to sustainable socioeconomic growth and national prosperity. Under healthcare as the second pillar of the Customs Cares initiative, we plan to conduct medical outreaches, deploy mobile clinics, and implement antimalaria campaigns to improve community health standards, particularly in underserved areas of our operations.”

The third pillar focuses on social investments, where we plan to initiate water borehole projects, support electricity infrastructure development, and facilitate skills acquisition programs to enhance community livelihoods and promote economic self-sufficiency in our areas of operation.

Environmental sustainability forms the fourth pillar and remains a cornerstone of our CSR approach, with planned tree-planting activities designed to create a greener and safer environment for present and future generations. Our commitment extends to bolstering food security and celebrating Nigeria’s cultural heritage as the final pillars of the Customs Cares initiative.

Realising the need for proper funding, the CGC disclosed that the initiative would be funded by its personnel.

“Following extensive consultations with the NCS management, I am pleased to disclose that the service has committed to earmark approximately 4% of our annual wage bill (equivalent to 50% of each officer’s one-month salary) to fund this initiative. This dedicated financial commitment will be complemented by the voluntary efforts already pledged by numerous officers who have enthusiastically indicated their willingness to support various aspects of the project through personal contributions of time, expertise, and additional resources. This combined approach ensures sustainable funding for our CSR programs.“

Speaking, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, commended the personnel of the NCS for their contributions to national development.

“Our gratitude to the Comptroller General of Customs, Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his leadership and this impactful initiative. And when I thank him, we also thank all the men and women of Customs Service are donating a portion of their salary to ensure that the Customs Cares program goes on. We commend them.

“They are focusing on education. They are focusing on health care, social investments, environmental sustainability, food security, and cultural heritage. So, they are not just seeing themselves as members of Customs playing their constitutional role; they see themselves as helping across the whole society.“

The minister of education, Tunji Alausa, said the Customs Care will enhance human capital development.

“The top four parts of your agenda centre on human capital development. And when we get that part of our society well, the human capital development of our society, we’ll get the entire society well. I commend you and congratulate you for this unique intervention.”

He therefore called for collaboration with relevant stakeholders to drive the initiative to achieve maximum impacts.

“But I’ll advise you as you march along with rolling out your agenda, your development plans, your interventions with regards to the Customs Cares, I encourage you to align your development strategies with the Universal Basic Education Commission, the Nigerian Senior Secondary Education Commission, and the sub-national government. Those are the people that will guide you and tell you what the schools need. They have the database of all the junior secondary schools in the country, and all the primary schools in the country. The National Senior Secondary School Commission has a database of all the senior secondary schools in the country. Both the federal government owned, the state government owned and the private schools as well. So you should consult with them.

“I know you can’t solve all the problems. But when we align our efforts, it leads to a much bigger, impactful result,“ he added.

As the NCS unveiled the Customs Cares initiative the service in collaboration with relevant authorities will provide learning materials, rehabilitate critical infrastructure, and offer scholarships to promote academic excellence and ensure no deserving student is left behind due to financial constraints.

Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja is the first school to be adopted under the initiative where the Nigeria Customs Service commissioned the installation of CCTV cameras and solar-powered streetlights throughout the compound, while the technical team has been tasked with renovating the school’s auditorium, in addition to providing learning materials to all students.