The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it has commenced work with the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun to sponsor a bill for the establishment of a separate entity-NCS Pension Administration.

According to its Comptroller General, Adewale Adeniyi, the initiative is modeled after the Nigeria Military, which has its separate Pension Service.

He broke the news In Abuja during the Reunion of Old and New Management Members of the Nigeria Customs Service, themed “Our Customs Heroes.”

Those that graced the reunion included ex – Comptroller – Generals of Customs, retired Deputy Comptroller- General of Customs and Assistant Comptroller -Generals of Customs.

The Immediate past CG, Col. Hameed Ali (retired ) was also present among other living legends of the ex- management staff of NCS.

Adeniyi said: “And recognizing the urgency of addressing pension, concerns, discussions have been initiated with the Minister of Finance to sponsor a bill aimed at establishing a separate entity for the management of NCS pension administration.

“This model will be mirroring successful models in other sectors such as the military.”

Earlier, he revealed that owing to the NCS commitment to a better welfare for the ex – management staff, it has initiated a number of measures, aimed at ameliorating the plights of the retired officers.

He noted that first In the provisions in the gazzette are currently undergoing the following review, and measures to enhance the welfare framework of retired officers.

Adeniyi added that the HRD (the Human Resource Department, has been actively engaged in transitioning the current verification exercises of retired Customs officers and migrating it from being a physical format to a digital format, streaming and expediting the processes.

He further noted that based on the wealth of experience of the retired heroes, the NCS is planning to take advantage of their expertise to engage them as NCS consultants.

“Moreover, recognizing the wealth of experience held by our retired management officers, the service is exploring options to leverage these expertises by engaging them as our consultants.”

The Customs boss also announced that in view of the prevailing security challenges in the country, the NCS is taking proactive measures to ensure the safety of its management officers during their transit, transfer and travels.

He noted that “this will incur comprehensive security protocools to guarantee their wellbeing in transit, reflecting our commitment to the holistic welfare and significant security of all of you.”

According to him, “those ongoing efforts signify our dedication to enhancing the post service experience of our retired officers and reinforcing the pivotal role they play in the continued success of the Nigeria Customs Service.”

On the healthcare of the retired management officers, he said the NCS will not leave their healthcare burden to only them to bear.

“We recognize the critical importance of prioriotising the healthcare needs of our retired officers.

“Your health is not only a personal priority but a shared responsibility for all of us.

“We commit to ensuring that healthcare remains the central focus providing you with the care and support that you need,” said Adeniyi.

He hoped that the reunion will be a symbol of commitment to build a virile NCS.

The Customs boss noted that several organizations such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Breweries Limited and other International Oil Companies (IOCs) tap into the wealth of expertise of their retired officers by engaging them as consultants.

He acknowledged that the NCS has an abundant expertises among the retired management staff that were present in the reunion.

He added that in various organizations, these retirees have not only preserved institutional knowledge, but have also played a pivotal role in guiding institution towards innovation and sustainable growth.

The CG noted that Customs stands to gain significantly by applying similar principles in Customs particularly in such areas like policy formulation, trade facilitation and procedural enhancement that can actually pave a way for a more agile, informed and forward thinking Customs operations.

According to him, this exchange of insight can propel the NCS towards greater efficiency, towards enhanced regulatory compliance and ultimately to broader economic development goals of the nation.

In his goodwill message, Hammed Ali thanked Adeniyi for being innovative to the extent of organizing the reunion.

He further expressed gratitude to him for the support and advice the present CG accorded him during his tenure.

According to Ali, the support Adeniyi gave him is now accountable for his own modest success.

Ex CG Benard Nwadialu, who said his tenure was very short, attributed the welfare the retirees now enjoy as part of the measures Ali instituted.

On the other hand, ex CG Dr. Abubakar Musa pledged his willingness to offer advice to the NCS whenever the need arises to Adeniyi.

Adeniyi said: “As we embark on this crucial journey to harness the invaluable wealth of experience from our retired officers, it is imperative to acknowledge and address some existing gaps that may have hindered the optimal utilization of these valuable resources.

“Learning from successful instances of some other organizations, we must recognize the following gaps and we must strive to overcome them. I come humbly before you, to let know that we have not done the best to ensure we tap into resource.

“I know that a number of reasons might be responsible for this. And learning from successful instances of some other organizations we must recognize the gaps, and we must strive to overcome them.

“I come humbly before you to let you know that we have not done the best to tap into your resources and know that a number of reasons might be responsible for this. I will just try and mention some which possibly will resonate.” (The Nation)

Update news