In order to avoid continual attacks on custom officers both at the ports and border stations, the Nigeria Customs Service, Zone 'A', has set up a 'Customs/ Stakeholders Dispute Resolution Committee' to monitor affairs and to douse mounting tensions between officers and stakeholders operating within the zone.
The Zone has also revealed that it will be purchasing gadgets and created help lines which will be distributed to various commands where stakeholders having various challenges can reach and get solutions to their trade challenges.
In order to avoid continual attacks on custom officers both at the ports and border stations, the Nigeria Customs Service, Zone 'A', has set up a 'Customs/ Stakeholders Dispute Resolution Committee' to monitor affairs and to douse mounting tensions between officers and stakeholders operating within the zone.
The Zone has also revealed that it will be purchasing gadgets and created help lines which will be distributed to various commands where stakeholders having various challenges can reach and get solutions to their trade challenges.
Addressing journalists at the end of a one-day retreat organized for officers of the zone over the weekend, Zone A' Coordinator, Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) of Customs, Banke Adeyemo said that the establishment of the committee is to ensure smooth flow of trade at the ports and border stations.
Adeyemo who strongly condemned attacks on customs officers in the line of their duty, pointed out that the committee which draws members from various heads of unit and terminals in Lagos, will be working at various commands to solve challenges and dispute between officers and stakeholders.
"For the uprising and tension mounting, and the physical and mental attack that our officers are subjected to which leads to loss of lives, we have decided to set up a committee called; Nigerian Customs Service/Stakeholders Dispute Resolution Committee. As the zonal coordinator, I am the chairman, each area controller is the vice chair, members are drawn from the terminals, head of terminals are automatic members" she disclosed.
According to her, wherever there is any disagreement in the port over any clearance of goods, before things get out of hand, the complainant can meet this committee in the command and they will solve the problem.
This according to her, is a save guard measure to prevent personal attacks and officers being shot at.
She assured that when stakeholders call the help lines that will be mounted by trained and courteous officers, they shall get solution to challenges facing them.
"We have our officers who are fully trained to answer; they will be using headsets instead of normal handsets, so that they can use their hand on computer and see everything regarding the job you are complaining about. The phone lines will be published in the newspapers" she added.
Adeyemo also said that, as part of resolutions of the retreat, the zone has ensured the restoration of the ethics and values department of the service. She said that this will help capture the discipline and integrity of all officers, and that each unit will have an officer in charge of them.
She disclosed that the Nigeria Custom Service has been given a target of N1.2Trillion by the Federal Government in 2014.
The target according to her will be shared and distributed to the various commands at a management meeting of the service.
"The target given to the service is the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) but we have to design a performance management structure to help us in the realization of that KPI" she said.
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