The top Customs’ hierarchy has expressed grave concerns about what it described as unprecedented rate of leadership transition that has hit the service in recent years.
This accelerated exit of top management staff through retirement has evidently created a gap in the top echelon cadre of the service which the leadership has swiftly moved to address.
Raising this alarm on Wednesday, November 13th, 2024 at Abuja during the ongoing Comptroller General of Customs conference.
The helmsman of the service, Adewale Adeniyi expressed anxiety at the phenomenal which he said the management has taken proactive steps to address.
“A significant internal challenge we must address transparently is the unprecedented rate of leadership transitions within our Service.
“The statistics tell a compelling story: we saw 60% of our management team exit in 2022, 36% in 2023, and this year, we will experience a 76% change in our management composition.
“With projections indicating another 40% of our management staff retiring in 2024, we recognize the urgent need for strategic intervention” he bemoaned.
He however said the leadership of the service has risen to the challenge to plug the gaps created by their rapid exit of senior officers through what he described as accelerated career progression in terms of rapid promoting of deserving officers.
“In response, we have launched an ambitious Human Resource Development Plan that addresses both immediate and long-term needs.
“This includes accelerated career progression opportunities for deserving officers, ensuring that talent and dedication are appropriately rewarded.
“Most significantly, we are making a historic investment in human capital infrastructure through the establishment of a Customs University – a testament to our commitment to building a knowledge driven service.
“These initiatives, aligned with the World Customs Organization’s focus on youth leadership development, complement our comprehensive talent management program that identifies and prepares promising officers for leadership roles, ensuring the Service’s continued stability and effectiveness”
He said the period of leadership transition presents an opportunities for the service to reshare its future.
Meanwhile, the service has projected a reduction in physical examination of goods at the nation’s ports in 2025.
According to the CGC, the physical interaction shall be scaled down while the use of technology and other tools of trade facilitation such as Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) will be enhanced to maximize revenue collection.
” Looking ahead to 2025, we have crafted ambitious yet attainable goals that build on our current momentum.
We aim to dramatically reduce physical inspection rates through enhanced risk management systems, fully deploy our e-customs infrastructure, and expand our Authorized Economic Operator program.
“Our focus extends to strengthening regional integration through improved border cooperation and deepening stakeholder engagement through regular consultative forums.
“These objectives are not just operational targets; they are our vision for a modern customs administration that effectively balances trade facilitation, revenue collection, and security.
“The achievement of these goals, particularly during this period of leadership transition, will require even stronger partnerships with all stakeholders – from government agencies to private sector operators” the Customs chief declared.