By Tony Nzekwe
The Nigeria Customs Service Zone C, has decorated 65,newly promoted officers in Port Harcourt, the Zonal Headquarters.
Performing the decoration, in Port Harcourt the Rivers state capital, the zonal Coordinator of Zone, ACG Kayode Olusemire charged the newly promoted officers to be good ambassadors of their commands and they should always reciprocate the kind gesture of the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Col.Hammed Ali, (rtd) who according to him had taken it upon himself so see that the officers were motivated through promotions and other welfare incentives.
He reiterated, “For the period of 9 years,the promotion of Customs officers was stagnated but today we are happy with the way the comptroller General of Customs, Col Hammed Ali, has changed the narrative; remember to whom much is given, much is expected.”
Adding, “This promotion is a call to duty for the prompted officers and you should double your efforts so as to realize the core objectives of Customs in the area of revenue generation, through strict compliance to the customs extant laws, including war against smuggling and always discipline yourselves.” He asserted, “For those who did not pass the promotion examination dust your books,read hard and get prepared for the next examination.”
In his admonition to promoted officers, he said, “Those of you who are promoted, prepare yourselves to serve, discipline yourselves and talk less as you have to protect the image of the serve as ambassadors.”
In addition, ACG Olusemire, said, ” The various commands and their controllers should insure that the newly promoted officers are trained in line with the regimented nature of the customs service and every officer must be in turned with the workings of the customs commands and represent the image of the customs service at every point in time.”
In his remarks, the Customs Area Controller, CAC, Onne customs command, Comptroller Auwal Mohammed, said, “We are happy at the number of officers who were promoted from the command and the number has shown that the command is working very well, which is a reflection of the level of revenue generation from the command. And has been on a steady rise for some years even as we expect more revenue generation.”
He lauded Col. Hammed Ali rtd, the Comptroller General of Customs for his unalloyed commitment to restructured and modernized Customs which has propelled the revenue generation on an increase in a daily bases and will continue to double before the end of the year more and more revenue will be collected.
The CAC charged the newly promoted officers to double their efforts to ensure compliance and due process in discharging their duties that promotion comes with more responsibility.
Also speaking, the Customs Area 1,Controller, Comptroller Garba Yusuf, said, “The the newly promoted officers should realise that promotion comes only from God and when it does, the promoted should thank God and know that it is a call for more task and responsibility.” He added, “Those not promoted should not worry as it does not mean that those promoted are better but they should work hard and wait for theirs which will definitely come one day.”
Compt.Garba reassured, ” Our revenue profile must increase,we must maintain discipline,credibility and integrity of the serve. That is why the CGC, Hammed Ali, has insisted that the officers welfare and morale must be taken care of always. ”
Some of the officers promoted include Comptroller A.I Mohammed, Comptroller P.N Ebeatu and Comptroller Mike Ugbuagu among others.
The newly promoted officers however expressed their joy to the Management for finding them worthy against all odds and promised to put in their best for the Customs Service.
