Tin-can island port sets fresh agenda for revenue
Generation - creates building blocks for standard Operational procedures to
boost revenue.
As part of
measures put in place by the Tin-can Island Command to remain a force to reckon
with in Revenue collection, the Customs Area Controller COMPT. BASHAR YUSUF, recently met in different sessions with the
Officers in-charge of the Terminals as well as the Valuation personnel in the
Terminals.
According to
Uche Ejewsieme, Public Relations Officer of the Command, the meeting was to
further reiterate his stand on zero tolerance for inappropriate examination of
cargo, comparative analysis of declarations on the SGD (Single Goods
Declaration) with the system declaration and appropriate valuation of goods to
guide against transfer of value amongst others.
In his
opening remarks, the Area Controller drew the attention of the sectional heads
to the role of the Service in National development and the implications of
failure to meet with expectations and its concomitant effect on the Economy of
the Nation.
He reminded
them that the Command was given a Revenue Target of 25.8billion a month,
translating to 306.8billion in a year, which necessitated his directive for a
daily target of at least 1billion. He
noted that the goals cannot be achieved without a practical commitment of all
Officers/Men. Speaking further, the
Controller admonished terminal heads to ensure thorough system checks on
declarations are carried out to identify goods which value may have been
transferred for regularization.
In view of
the above, the Controller directed that beyond the weekly target, the various
terminals will also be placed on serious surveillance to ensure zero tolerance
for any corrupt tendency.
Similarly,
the Controller on Friday 4th August, 2017, while declaring closed an
ICT training in the Command charged participants to make integrity,
professionalism and due diligence their watch word while stating that ICT is an
enabler, he pointed out that the participants are expected to drive the process
through a renewed commitment and vigor tailored towards raising the Revenue
profile of the Command. He noted that
his passion for capacity building prompted him to establish the training centre
which in future will serve the training needs of the Service and the WCO noting that whoever passes through
the facility will have a comparative advantage of out-pacing their
contemporaries in all aspects of 21st Century Customs Operations.
In his
words, to the Releasing Officers, he stated this “we have found you worthy in Learning
& Character and that is why we gave you Password.” “As the Area Controller, I want to state for
the umpteenth time that I do not have a preferred Importer, nor agency which is
why I have never compelled any one of you to exit any cargo based on such
preference”. May I remind you to guard
your pass words jealously as flimsy excuses of in deliberate mistakes will not
be tolerated.
Generally
speaking, he charged stakeholders to key into the change mantra / Ideology of
the Comptroller-General of Customs as their sacrifice to nation building,
stating that Tin-can Island under his watch will remain a choice and preferred
port for patriotic importers in view of her penchant for the facilitation of
legitimate trade.
On the
issue pertaining to the presidential enabling business committee on Ease of
Doing Business, the Controller stated that the Command had been at the Vanguard
of ensuring that honest declarations are given expeditious access though there
could be occasional hiccup, the Command is ever ready to face such
challenges. He described stakeholder
engagement, inter-personal skills and the concept of change Management as part
of the building blocks to functional and effective Customs Operations.
“Your
driving force should be to out-pace your contemporaries through upping the ante
in all aspects of your official engagements.
We will develop more rigorous and comprehensive training program after
the official commissioning of the facility.
Our ultimate task – Revenue Generation and Collection, therefore we have
a responsibility as officers/men to demonstrate integrity and commitment in the
discharge of our official functions”.
Your
performance must be seen to have a significant effect on our Revenue,
attitudinal change and self transformation is also key. “My style is to use ICT to control the
behavior of officers and those who are found wanting will be sanctioned to act
as deterrent to would be offenders”.
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