Greetings friends... I hope your day is going well! Mine is Blissful. As a Writer and a Sociopolitical Commentator in Nigeria, I want to use this medium to share my recent experience with the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS). I know you will like it.
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You see, for most of us, our only encounter with the Nigeria Customs is when we are flying out of Nigeria or returning to it. In the past (I emphasize "the past"), those encounters were often unsavory. And some of us wrote about them when they happened.
I have written in other platforms about at least three Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) terrible experiences, then I didn't join steemit. Some of us encountered unsavory incidents when we shipped in some items. I have written about one such incident. And you know I can be quite acerbic when I write about perceived unfairness, incompetence and corruption.
But a "fair" writer - a fair sociopolitical commentator - must not only comment to criticize; he must also comment to praise when he observes good performances, especially Coming from an organization or person he once criticized.
When I was a president of Community Development Service (CDS) during my National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), I developed a practice of formally (in writing) praising my subordinates immediately they did extraordinary things, instead of waiting several weeks or months to do it during their periodic performance evaluation periods.
l also developed the bold practice of writing to my superiors to praise them for extraordinary achievements. Leaders are human beings too. They need affirmation and praise when they are doing good. I believe folks should be praised when they do well. It goes on to spur them to do even better, knowing that someone appreciates what they have done.
It is the reason I am sharing this piece. The present Comptroller General of Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) by name Alhaji Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (MFR) is a revolutionary in the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)! He has been quietly and steadily reforming and rebranding the NCS.
And for most of us, what we see is the new professional NCS staff at the MMIA. They are completely professional now! It is not by happenstance. It's a deliberate cultural regeneration from the top. And it's coming from WITHIN!
If you are an importer and/or an exporter of legal items, the NCS of today is your friend. In fact, one of the greatest goals and achievements of this NCS boss is "trade facilitation - removing unnecessary barriers that used to hinder international trade. This has led to more trade and an attendant increase in revenues which I note in this piece.
It is important to note that the massive, record increase in revenue generation announced recently did not happen just because the government raised tariffs. It happened principally because Nigerians conducted more international trades. But you and I wouldn't know it because we are not involved in trading.
And if you are not an international traveler, you will not personally encounter the new NCS staff at the MMIA. What amazes me the most is that coming right after Col Hameed Ali - a non-professional Customs Comptroller-General touted for his "can-do", "'no-nonsense" and "incorruptible" military credentials, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, a thoroughbred Customs professional is exceeding everyone's expectations and everyone is loving it!
From top to bottom, the NCS staff themselves are loving it. They are basking in the accolades coming from the political leadership. And they are motivated now, more than ever, to do even better.
This must be a lesson for future presidents that if they search hard enough, they will find folks within organizations who can revolutionize their organization without breaking it up first.