Making case for human resources development
Apart from the assemblage of gallant officers, Inde went ahead to create the Department of Human Resource Development (HRD), purposely for the training and re-training of officers and men of the service in order to enhance professionalism and productivity. About 3,100 senior and 2,500 junior officers from different departments of the service were sent on […]
Apart from the assemblage of gallant officers, Inde went ahead to create the Department of Human Resource Development (HRD), purposely for the training and re-training of officers and men of the service in order to enhance professionalism and productivity.
About 3,100 senior and 2,500 junior officers from different departments of the service were sent on different training, workshops and seminars both locally and internationally as it relates to the job. These courses include trainings and workshops on ASYCUDA, enforcement and drugs, tariff and trade, accounts and audit, medical courses, technical, general office administration and human resources.
Not only that, about 50 officers and men of the Provost Unit were trained on security related matters at the Army School of Military Police and as a result, the service has since been enlisted among the schools’ membership on Security Enhancement Programme. Some of the courses and trainings that the Comptroller General arranged for the officers and men of the service are Workshop/Training on strengthening and positioning of staff of Accounts/Internal Audit of Nigeria Customs Service held in Kano, Lagos and Port-Harcourt in May, 2010.
Officers that attended this course were two hundred and twenty two officers of level 08 and above divided into Abuja headquarters and FCT Command 56 Officers, Zone A 137, Zone B and D 36, Zone C 43. There was Workshop on Trade facilitation and policy, Courses on the modernization of Asycuda and E-clearance procedures – Nigeria 2010, Risk Management Strategy and Customs Legislative Reform on new CEMA by USAID office Lagos and Abuja, April 2010, World Customs Organization Counterfeiting Piracy (CAP) group in Brussels October 2009, Technical Committee on Rules of Origin (ROO) also in Brussels January, 2010 and Meeting of the Negotiating Group of Trade Facilitation (NGTF) at the WTO Secretariat in Geneva February 2010.
Any wonder then the World Customs Organizations spoke lofty of Inde and his reforms in the Service. Recently, news filtered that he has elevated two Assistant Comptroller-Generals (ACGs) to the ranks of Deputy Comptroller-Generals (DCG), a rear feat demonstrated by the Comptroller-General. It has been in the Service for sometimes that sitting Comptroller – Generals hardly elevate officers to Deputy Comptroller Generals as it is viewed as appointing Comptroller – General in waiting. Dikko’s recent elevation of Julius Nwangwu and Garba Makarfi to the rank of Deputy Comptroller General is a clear indication that he is committed to implementing the six point agenda to the later, giving what is due to whom it is due.
When the Comptroller General addressed officers and men of the service on Friday 28th August, 2009 on assumption of duty as Comptroller General he said.” Today marks the dawn of new era in our great service.” Dikko has indeed shown that from the top echelon to the junior cadre in the service, his welfare package will generate zeal to give their best service.
The establishment of Nigeria Customs Academy at Gwagwalada in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja will ever remain green in the history of the Nigeria Customs Service. If protocol had allowed former President Olusegun Obasanjo to appoint Dikko as Comptroller General, the regret he expressed over the Customs that the Service was frustrating his government in 2004 would have been otherwise. The former President it was reported told the management of the Customs in 2004 that if he had his ways he would have scrapped the Service, accusing it of siding smugglers to rubbish his administration’s policies on import.
Due to prevailing exigencies occasioned by retirements of serving senior officers and his zeal to further reform the Customs a niche further, Inde has proven that he is not done yet with his objective for revenue spinning for the government.
Also bearing in mind the accusation of former President Olusegun Obasanjo against the service, Inde also declared that “smuggling has robbed this country of much needed revenue and also robbed the Customs of its reputation. I intend to confront head on, hydra-headed monster of smuggling, side by side with fighting to rid the service of officers who aid smuggling.”
Recently, a cross section of business men particularly importers commended the CGH over stern policies of his administration to check smuggling activities across the country’s borders. The reinforcement of the hitherto disbanded Anti Smuggling activities team code-named ‘Operation Chinaka’ with impressive logistics such as aircraft, anti ballistic actions (bullet-proof vehicles) and daily allowances provided for the team, there has been a meteoric rise in revenue generation with commendable reduction in smuggling and arms import as well as drug, women and child trafficking. Officers and men of the Operation intercepted a large bale of aphrodisiacs from the men of the underworld thus aiding the campaign against the dangers and prevalence of illicit drugs in the Society.
Several negative trends were reversed in the service in the last two years. For instance, with the welfare incentives of the incumbent administration, contraband hitherto imported into country has been put at bay. Communities suspected to be previously aiding and abetting smuggling and related crimes are now working closely with officers of the service to check criminal activities along the nation’s borders.
Azare wrote in from Kaduna