EJIBUNU, NNADI, SHUAIBU, ONYEKA, HADISON GLOW @ CUSTOMS DECORATION CEREMONY IN ABUJA AS ADENIYI CHARGES; TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS EXPECTED
By Timothy Paul Okorocha
It was glitz and glamour at the Customs House on Number 2, Lake Taal Close, Maitama, Abuja on the 22nd of January, a day set aside for the decoration of a retinue of Senior Customs Officers elevated/appointed to their next ranks.
The environment was to say the least over-charged, starting from the outside, leading to the entire multi Billion naira 12 floors of the new Customs Headquarters. A ceremony scheduled for the previous week had been postponed due to circumstances beyond the control of the management.
Friends, families, associates of the newly promoted officers came out in their best attires to witness the epoch-making event. And like every event presided over by the Comptroller-General, Adewale Adeniyi, he didn’t disappoint. For almost three hours, he stood still, administering the “Oath of Office” rather, swearing in the newly elevated.
Though, the hall was not well ventilated but he withstood the odds with the young Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Ododo who came, perhaps on the invitation of H.K Ejibunu to decorate him with his new rank.
On record, at least 80 Comptrollers were elevated nation-wide, some at the twilight of their retirement, one Deputy Comptroller-General, and more than a dozen Assistant Comptrollers-General –a rank from where the future Comptroller General can emerge.
From the list of guests, one can still hazard that Customs remains the most disciplined and cherished para-military with its consequent role in safe-guarding the economy of the nation and its huge generation of needed revenue.
There was indeed no space; as guests swarmed the entire environment commending the Customs management of conducting transparent promotion, interviews and concluding the exercise in good time.
The Comptroller General who received commendations was emphatic that this decoration was a conclusion of the promotion exercise initiated months ago for 2024, promising that the 2025 exercise will come in good time. Though, he stated that there may have been some fake rumours about examination malpractices, they were however, on top of the situation, nipping it in the bud.
He stated that promotion was a call to higher duties, officers will be expected to be called into decision making which requires dedication, discipline and transparency.
Adeniyi charged them to imbibe ad make the ethics of their profession their watch word. According to him, officers need to be monitored, guided and well-grounded to withstand the challenges posed by technology and the new trade.
He pledged that young officers will be given the opportunity to grow so as to plug any generational gap. He maintained that the 2024 promotion exercise was based on merit, noting that promotion henceforth, in the Service is based on application of knowledge and not who you know in the Service.
Noting that the management did not allow discrepancies in the conduct of its affairs, he warned that the Service will not condone corruption, or those going about with rumours of religious sentiments in its operations.
He noted that those suspected to have been involved in examination malpractices will be meted with commensurate penalty to serve as deterrent to others planning to indulge in such act. He pointed out that peradventure some officers were omitted in the list, they would compile their names and forward to the Minister for remedy.
Officers expressed happiness over their recognition to the next rank, thanking the Comptroller General for counting them worthy to be so elevated.
Reacting, the new Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) in charge of Finance, Administration and Special Duties, ACG H.K Ejibunu eulogized the Comptroller General for rewarding merit and prayed that God will endow him with more wisdom to pilot the affairs of the Customs Service with grace and candour.