The Nigeria Customs Service Board, which oversees the country’s customs operations, has recently approved the promotion of 4,291 senior officers within the service. This announcement was made by Abdullahi Maiwada, the National Public Relations Officer for the service, in a statement released on Friday. The decision was made during the Board’s 61st regular meeting, which took place last week and was chaired by Mr. Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.
In addition to the promotions, the board confirmed the appointment of one Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs and seven Assistant Comptroller-Generals. These appointments were necessary to fill positions that became vacant due to the retirement of some members of the management team from different regions of Nigeria.
Maiwada emphasized that these actions are part of the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to ensuring that all regions of the country are represented fairly within the organization. This approach aligns with a policy known as the Federal Character Policy, which aims to promote inclusivity and balance within federal agencies.
The promotion of these senior officers reflects their outstanding performance in their roles, both in general duties and support positions, during the recent promotion exercise for 2024.
Here’s a breakdown of the promotions:
- 80 Deputy Comptrollers were promoted to the rank of Customs Comptroller.
- 151 Assistant Comptrollers were elevated to Deputy Comptroller.
- 612 Chief Superintendents of Customs moved up to Assistant Comptroller.
- 641 Superintendents of Customs were promoted to Chief Superintendent.
- 392 Deputy Superintendents of Customs became Superintendents of Customs.
- 590 Assistant Superintendents of Customs I advanced to Deputy Superintendent.
- 965 Assistant Superintendents of Customs II were promoted to Assistant Superintendent I.
- 860 Inspectors of Customs were elevated to Assistant Superintendent II.
Additionally, the board recognized the exceptional contributions of 16 officers by granting them special promotions to the next higher rank for their outstanding performance in their assigned duties.
In a heartfelt gesture, the board also approved a posthumous promotion for the late Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Etop Andrew Essien, who passed away on June 25, 2024. This promotion honors his significant contributions and dedication to the service.
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To improve efficiency and service delivery, the board has decided to restructure some of its operations. Specifically, the Post Clearance Audit Unit will now report directly to the Office of the Comptroller General rather than the Tariff and Trade Department. This change is intended to enhance oversight and operational efficiency and will be led by an Assistant Comptroller General.
Recognizing the importance of maintaining institutional knowledge during this time of transition, the board has also approved a 12-month extension of service for selected senior officers from various regions. This decision, which has received presidential approval, aims to address the current high turnover rate among management personnel in the Nigeria Customs Service.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, congratulated all the newly appointed, promoted, and retained officers. He encouraged them to uphold the core values of the service and strive for excellence in their work. Adeniyi also reiterated the service’s commitment to ensuring a motivated workforce with clear opportunities for career advancement and a strong focus on high standards of performance.
