"Promotion now on merit and not Welfare Programme for Customs"- Ag. CGC Adewale

 "Promotion now on merit and not Welfare Programme for Customs"- Ag. CGC Adewale

ZAINAB JUNAID

The Acting Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service(NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has stressed the need to regenerate Customs Service to ensure that Men and Officers that deserves promotion are elevated.

Speaking during a nationwide promotional examination conducted by the Service this week, Adewale noted that promotion of Officers and Men of the Service will not just be a welfare program for customs.

To him, "it's essential to regenerate the service and ensure that those who are deserving of various positions are elevated, we experienced transparency and fairness during the examination process.

"We had some pep talks with them to help them believe in the system and understand all the efforts that we have made to ensure that there is a lot of integrity in the process. We want them to know that promotion now is based on performance and not who you know.

"The report I got regarding the level of preparations attests to this fact that we are now reconciling ourselves to that reality; it's about what you know, how capable you are, and how you can demonstrate the knowledge of the job. So that's what should come out, and that's what what count for each of these officers writing the exams," Adeniyi explained.

Also Speaking with newsmen, Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Odedeji Babajide, said that the promotion would serve as an incentive to spur officers to perform more efficiently.

"Anyone granted the privilege of leadership should definitely know that to whom much is given, much is expected, and that means we should put in more than we have been doing before to make sure that the service is improved. We must ensure that there is value addition," he stated.

DC Oluremi Omisere, on her part said that officers who gain promotion must ensure that the key primary role of customs, which is trade facilitation and border security, must be carried out judiciously.

"Officers must ensure that revenue targets set by the government are met, and every leakage in revenue is being controlled," she stressed.

Also speaking, Deputy Comptroller Hussein Ejibunu said, "There's a lot of transparency in it. My expectation is high, and I hope to climb higher. Because to whom much is given, much is expected, this promotion will help me do better.

Deputy Comptroller of Customs Idris Abba-Aji said, "We give others the lead to follow. The examination was conducted with world-class standards. With the trend of development globally and the training we get, we will be able to withstand every challenge."

The Nigeria Customs Service(NCS)  nationwide promotional examinations for Officers and Men of the service according to National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada started with the rank of Deputy Comptrollers, Assistant Comptrollers, and Chief Superintendent of Customs on October 16, 2023, at Sascon International School in Abuja. 

It saw dedicated officers hailing from various Area Commands and Units showcasing their intellectual prowess in line with the Standard Operating Procedure established to promote deserving officers based on merit.