Customs Cares: NCS Dedicates 4% Of Salaries To CSR Initiatives

Comptroller General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi has announced the resolve of the management of the service to earmark four percent of the annual salaries of the men and officers of the service to fund a Corporate Social Responsibility programme tagged “Customs Cares.”

The CGC said through the Customs Cares initiative, the service aims to make meaningful contributions to Nigeria’s educational sector as well as demonstrate that NCS is committed to supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 8 priority areas in his Renewed Hope presidential agenda for good governance.

“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,” CGC Adeniyi said yesterday in Abuja at the launch of the CSR project at Government Secondary School in Wuze Zone 3, Abuja.

He said the 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 programmes,” he stated.

He explained that the “Customs Cares” initiative represents Customs’ comprehensive approach to CSR, designed to foster inclusive growth and create sustainable impact across the Nigerian communities where we operate.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun lauded the men and officers of the customs service while describing the initiative as an inclusive tool to entrench development and deliver democracy’s dividends to all Nigerians.

Edun described the customs gestures as a rare initiative and lauded the Service’s management under Wale Adeniyi for the CRS interventions, which cut across six areas: education, healthcare, social investments, and environmental sustainability.

The minister urged the students to be committed to their studies as future leaders of Nigeria and Africa.

He reiterated current administration policy reforms – fuel subsidy removal and a liberalized exchange rate policy as necessary reforms carried out to save the economy from collapse.

With focus on education, health, agriculture, creative sector and other priority areas, Adeniyi said the programme is designed to be rolled out in phases within traditional CSR frameworks and will adopt a multidimensional strategy that addresses critical social, educational, and infrastructural gaps in underserved communities. He said the NCS focuses on six key pillars, implementing a rich mix of activities that will be carried out in all areas of its operations including the border areas.

He said through strategic partnerships with local stakeholders, government agencies, and international development organizations, Customs Cares aims to deliver measurable, long-term benefits that empower citizens and strengthen Civic sustainability.

“This flagship project at GSS Wuse Zone 3 follows this model, where we have identified security infrastructure as the school’s priority based on consultations with authorities. In response, we have commissioned the installation of CCTV cameras and solar-powered streetlights throughout the compound, while our technical team has been tasked with renovating the school’s auditorium, in addition to providing learning materials to all students,” he stated.

Under healthcare as the second pillar of the Customs Cares initiative, he said the service plan to conduct medical outreaches, deploy mobile clinics, and implement anti-malaria campaigns to improve community health standards, particularly in underserved areas of our operations.

The school’s principal, Mrs. Josephine Chizoba Ugwu, expressed her excitement over the Customs Service’s intervention.

Ugwu described the initiative as a thoughtful gesture that made the students feel pampered and cared for. She assured that with the improved learning environment, the students would not only excel academically but also develop strong character