The Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB), during its 61st regular meeting held on December 18, 2024, chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, announced the promotion of 4,291 senior officers.

The Board confirmed the appointment of one Deputy Comptroller General (DCG) and eight Assistant Comptroller Generals (ACGs).

The newly confirmed members of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Management Team include DCG S. Chiroma (North-East), and ACGs Z.M. Gaji (North-East), O.A. Adebakin (South-West), G.M. Omale (North-Central), M.S. Yusuf (North-Central), D.A. Nnadi (South-East), H.K. Ejibunu (North-Central), and D. Hassan (North-East).

These appointments aim to fill vacancies created by the retirement of senior officers from various geopolitical zones.

The move reflects the Service?s commitment to national inclusivity, institutional balance, and compliance with the Federal Character Policy as stipulated in Section 14(4) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

?Furthermore, the promotion of senior officers highlights the exceptional performance of both General Duty (GD) and Support Staff (SS) personnel during the 2024 promotion exercise.

?A breakdown of the 4,291 officers elevated are as follows: 80 Deputy Comptrollers (DC) advanced to Customs Comptroller (CC), 151 Assistant Comptrollers (AC) to Deputy Comptroller (DC) and 612 Chief Superintendents of Customs (CSC) to Assistant Comptroller (AC).

?Others are 641 Superintendents of Customs (SC) to Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC), 392 Deputy Superintendents of Customs (DSC) to Superintendent of Customs (SC), 590 Assistant Superintendents of Customs I (ASC I) to Deputy Superintendent of Customs (DSC), 965 Assistant Superintendents of Customs II (ASC II) to ASC I, and 860 Inspectors of Customs (IC) to ASC II.

Recognising extraordinary contributions, the image maker said: ?The Board also approved special promotions for sixteen (16) deserving officers to the next higher rank based on their exceptional performance in various assigned responsibilities.

?In the same vein, the Board equally approved a posthumous promotion in honour of the late Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Etop Andrew Essien, who passed away on June 25, 2024, during a presentation before the National Assembly House Committee on Public Accounts. This gesture acknowledges his invaluable contributions and unwavering dedication, a testament to the organisation?s appreciation of exceptional service and commitment?, Maiwada said.

He said: ?As part of its drive for enhanced service delivery and streamlined administrative processes in line with global best practices, the Board approved a strategic restructuring, transferring the Post Clearance Audit (PCA) Unit directly to the Office of the Comptroller General from the Tariff and Trade Department. This pivotal unit, now elevated in status, will be headed by an Assistant Comptroller General, ensuring stronger oversight, increased efficiency, and alignment with the Service?s commitment to excellence in operational standards.

?To safeguard operational continuity and preserve the wealth of institutional knowledge amid the retirement of numerous senior officers, a 12-month service extension has been granted to selected distinguished senior officers representing the six geopolitical zones of the Federation.

?The extension of service for these officers, ratified by the Board meeting, follows the Presidential approval for the measure meant to address the current high rate of NCS management turnover.

?The officers granted this esteemed extension include Assistant Comptrollers-General B Imam (North-East), IG Umar (North-West), KC Egwu South-East) as well as Comptrollers F. Abdulqadri (North-Central), MT Awe South-West, and OF Ojiefor (South-South).

?The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, on behalf of the NCSB, congratulates all newly appointed, promoted, and retained officers, urging them to uphold the Service?s core mandates and pursue excellence.

?He extends warm Christmas and New Year wishes to all and expresses deep gratitude to the Honorable Minister of Finance for ensuring the timely conclusion of the 2024 promotion cycle. In celebration of this milestone, the CGC also reaffirms the Service?s commitment to fostering a motivated workforce with assured career progression and a steadfast focus on excellence,? he said. (The Nation)

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