Customs Area Controller of Apapa Port Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu has charged Deputy Comptrollers and Assistant Comptrollers at the nation’s premier port to uphold the tenets of transparency
Olomu who said this at a workshop where the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) trained the officers , reminded them of the importance of their various offices to the overall success of the command and Nigeria Customs Service
Comptroller Olomu who described transparency and accountability as essential pillars that support good governance.stressed that the role of Customs under the leadership of Bashir Adewale Adeniyi as Comptroller General has tilted the priority of the service to engagement with stakeholders.
Olomu observed that transparency and accountability are at the heart of the principles of Customs which have led to strategic alliances with various stakeholders and significant attainments in revenue generation and anti-smuggling.
While giving her remarks, the representative of the Resident Commissioner for ICPC Lagos, Mrs. Florence Bariboloka, highlighted some qualities of a transparent and accountable public servant to include; providing answers and responding to all mails, messages and request at the appropriate time; taking responsibility for actions; proactively solving problems; not blaming or making excuses for failures; among others.
She added that Customs officers should be defined as someone tasked with carrying out Customs responsibilities with integrity, transparency and accountability.
The trainer emphasised that demonstrating commitment to prompt service delivery and observing the code of conduct and ethics of Customs entrenches transparency and accountability; even as she encouraged participants show humility and apologise for wrong doings.
Meanwhile, she added that recognizing and rewarding officers who distinguish themselves with good conduct also enhances transparency in the workplace.
The Assistant Commission, however, encouraged the Apapa Customs to adopt the Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard which has been utilised in over 280 Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) across the nation.
