By Martins Ikhilae
Leadership, service and unquestionably, impact apparently appears to be both fundamental and resounding components of administrative excellence and by extension integral parts of professional competence or capabilities. As such, it is believed philosophically that whatsoever a person sows such shall he or she abundantly reap: “What I say, I preach and what I preach is what I do”. Adoptably, diplomacy is a welcome means of pursuing efficiency in service delivery. In addition, a competent ability to enhance or boost personal morale via exemplifying work force encouraging practices is also a welcome initiative. For instance,you cannot be a spectator and be hoping to own or win a medal. To avoid being riddled with contradiction, rebuilding public trust in leadership is key while on the other hand development partners must collaborate and unity efforts for greater goal achievement. Necessarily, the Idiroko, Ogun state customs command has also adopted responsible communication for effective and efficient coordination to boost international trade facilitation on the corridor of trade.
Acceptable leadership is all about character, competence, trust, communication and qualification. Are we at a critical crossroad in the search for an administrative blueprint? What about leadership and followership which encompass courage, integrity, visionary advocacy and unwavering adherence to national harmony? This could be tantamount to dependable progress. A good leader strives to be a person of humility, honour, humour and fairness as well as attaining the status of purposeful leadership. There has been no doubt such a paradigm shift in Nigeria Custom Service Area command leadership comportment and directorship. However, retrofitting administrative strategies cannot be overlooked as the search for admin dynamism is out rightly in focus for a befitting role model of progress in leadership. Could such be tagged a phenomenal progressive and celebrateable trailblazer and fabulous personality? One can be justifiably proud of oneself when the right things are done. One must also put into consideration the possibility of poverty entrapment and profer? psychological considerations. There is no doubting there could be existential issues. indeed technology driven development processes must be diligently embraced. Consummate octopus in leadership. So a person by doing so can become a distinguished administrator as well as become a custodian of the requisite progress in performance.
Dynamism and leadership cannot be considered as opposing forces but rather be made to competently and corporately co-exist in an appreciably balanced and very purposeful way. It is equally imperative that one should state categorically that although not seeking outright prominence, conduct, expression and patriotic commitment to effectiveness, efficiency and dynamism in human resource management all this should be maximally enshrined in purpose driven dignity. Must these lead to unity, progress and peaceful collaborations for maximum effect and performances? Also relevant in this, is the ability to sustain public enlightenment and education on Customs operation, essentialities and encouraging collaborative inter-agencies collaboration. As such a leader is confidently able to midwife consistent / reliable manner of responsibility, alignment/ collaboration with constituted authorities. He is able to champion unique thoughts, applaud-able composure and highly principled in disposition. Leadership and moral authorities/legacies should be ideally executed and preserved. Notably among these includes trade facilitation, improvement in revenue earning, enforcement, anti-smuggling, over hauling/fine-tuning the various compliance mechanisms, boosting of stakeholders cooperation, putting adequately in place anti-revenue leakages measures, upgrading operational efficiency and professionally deploying strategically relevant unified, Nigerian Customs Service, NCS management systems. Alluding to the commitment and professional doggedness and virtues of the Ogun 1 customs command9 competently localized at Idi-iroko under the leadership of Deputy Comptroller Kayode O. Afeni as head. During a brief interaction, The Assistant image maker of the command, Mrs. Modupe O. Ali said operational dynamism has been brought to the fore since the emergence of the current regime. He maintained that since the assumption of office by D.C Afeni numerous strategic administrative over haul have been executed which are currently producing successes in the various aspects of customs operations. Inspector Ali opined that Ogun one customs under D.C Afeni has been uprightly reanimated with a series of progressive achievements. Suffice it therefore to impute from the foregoing that series of landmark achievements are being serially recorded uninterruptedly. Inspector Ali is of the opinion that increase in revenue collection, seizures, available/ provision of adequate operation intelligence, moral boosting workforce should lead to officers’ high commitment to duty. Describing the Deputy Comptroller as articulate, highly intelligent and very competent officer who understand the job, Ali posited that the Area Controller is well organized and has mastery of what Customs job requires in accordance with the goals and aspirations of the Customs Comptroller- General, Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi who is also chairman of the highly revered World Customs Organization Council.
“My boss is very professional, well grounded in Customs operation, officers are happy working with him, he places officers on performance high tension as he abhors laziness and failure. He has the strategy, disciplined, polite and punctual at work. He is inclined towards technological advancement and ensures that operational officers are allocated sophisticated and suitable operational vehicles. He usually embarks on unscheduled visits to officers and men under his command at their respective duty posts for moral boosting purposes in fulfillment of the CGC desire for purposeful leadership in area commands”, she said. Considerably, transparency and accountability are also adoptable tools as well as keeping appropriate tabs on the workforce. Emphasizing human capital development including provision of requisite dynamic administrative climate involving deployment of good leadership tactics.
It is widely believed that robust collaboration with relevant sectors of the economy and polity will bring about progress in digital transformation, acceptance of trade facilitation, revenue earnings and border security. These are cardinal projects which must remain vital and central that would in-turn fast-track efficiency, transparency and accountability.
• Ikhilae, a public affairs analyst, writes in from Abuja.
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