Bjy Teddy Nwanunobi
Abuja (Sundiata Post) — The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Monday, became the first Federal Government’s agency to abolish the dichotomy that exists between the Higher National Diploma (HND) and Degree holders in the civil service, as its Comptroller General (CG), Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd), directed that HND salary scale earners be aligned to Grade Level 8 and be equal with holders of university first degrees.
Ali, who dropped the hint, while decorating nine officers of the NCS at its Abuja headquarters, added that the Presidency, in the absence of a constituted Customs Board, also approved the promotion of 3,487 senior officers of NCS.
Citing a circular dated September 8, 2016 from the Head of Service of the Federation, Ali further disclosed that government approved, since April 1992, that the Service should align with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) rank structure.
“The CGC has directed as follows: all HND holders currently on salary grade level 07 are automatically moved to salary grade level 08. Supplementary budget will be made for payment of arrears of salary.
“The rank structure of the Service is aligned with the Nigeria Police Force forthwith; officers in the Inspectorate Cadre on salary Grade Level 08 and above are to align to the appropriate rank in the Superintendent Cadre.
“This is expected to boost the morale of officers and eliminate confusion in the seniority of officers,” Ali declared.
Ali further charged the officers to see their promotion as a call to higher duty.
A breakdown of the promotion shows:
DC-CC=17, AC-DC=27, CSC -AC=156, SC-CSC=62, DSC-SC=86, ASC1-DSC=144, ASC II- ASC I=2,522, DCIC-CIC=23, ACIC-DCIC=30, PIC-ACIC=57, SIC-PIC=56, Support Staff DC-CC=3, AC-DC=4, CSC-AC=2, SC-CSC=8, DSC-SC=8, ASCI-DSC=8, ASCII-ASCI=44, DCIC-CIC=2, ACIC-DCIC=5, PIC-ACIC=2, SIC-PIC=21, Lateral Conversion=119, Upgrading=81, bringing the total to 3,487 promoted officers.
Some of the newly promoted officers to the exalted rank of Comptroller include Musa Mba, Wale Adeniyi, and Angbalaga J.J.
While the Public Relations Officers, Joseph Attah, was promoted to Deputy Comptroller, his deputy, Abubakar Dalhatu, was promoted to Chief Superintendent.
Shortly, after decorating the six comptrollers, two deputy comptrollers (DC), the CGC said all the officers promoted got it on merit, considering the cumulative scores from examination, oral interview and seniority.
“For all of you that earned this promotion, you have worked hard for it,” he said.
While charging the officers to take responsibility in their new ranks, Ali said in the past, officers were promoted without deserving it, adding that such era was now in the past.
“Let me appeal to all Customs officers, wherever they are, to align with the change mantra,” he told them.
Responding on behalf of the newly decorated officers, Comptroller Olusemire Kayode thanked the management, and gave the assurance of recommitment to effective service delivery.
He said the newly promoted will uphold the confidence reposed in them by contributing their best to the course of nation building.