From Uche Usim, Abuja
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Hameed Ali, has tasked the newly-promoted officers to live above board in all their endeavours, as anything contrary will attract a sack or demotion because the system does not tolerate any form of a misdemeanour.
He gave the stern warning in Abuja while decorating some of the promoted officers with their new ranks in the presence of their families and friends.
According to Ali, promotion in Customs remains a strenuous process for officers and those who prepare them for it.
‘This is a Standard Operating Practice (SOP). There is no other way to get a promotion than going through the due process designed by the Service,’ the comptroller stated.
‘I salute the promoted officers because they have gone through thick and thin. Welcome to your new rank. This will be the only process that will sustain the Service and we urge those coming behind us to sustain it. It’s a norm that if you work hard you’d earn a promotion.
‘You now have additional responsibilities. You will be viewed from a different perspective. There are offences and mistakes you can do in your former ranks and you’d be forgiven but now the stakes are higher and such mistakes can’t be accepted.
‘Your conduct must change to sit well with the new rank. There must be an improvement in conduct and performance. Punctuality, efficiency and demeanour must change to fit into the new rank. By your actions, you can now say for yourself if you’re deserving of it or not. Discipline is highly essential. Any organisation without it is heading to ground zero. It’s the bedrock to greater heights. Any misdemeanour will be punished punitively. We have embarked on dismissing and demotion. Anyone not wanting to be punished must behave well. Anything outside this, the Service will take its pound of flesh.
‘You can be moved to other places, especially Comptrollers. You can now become mini CGC in your new places. Leadership isn’t as easy as it seems. It demands sacrifice to make a point and then you earn, not force respect. Earn the confidence of your officers and subordinate. Make a covenant to be a good leader,’ Ali charged.
Responding on behalf of the promoted officers, Comptroller Babatunde Olumu said that the promotion remains a push towards greater output by delivering new responsibilities.
He assured the CGC that the confidence reposed on them will not be detonated.
Last week, the Federal Government through the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning and Chairman, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Board, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, approved the promotion of 3,466 general duty and support staff officers.
The approval came at Nigeria Customs Service Board’s (NCSB) 54th regular meeting.