Apapa Customs Partners ICPC, Sensitizes Senior Officers on Transparency, Accountability in Public Office

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Apapa Commmand of the Nigeria Customs Service on Thursday held a lecture for senior officers, especially those in cadre of Deputy Comptrollers and Assistant Comptrollers on the need to uphold best practices while discharging their duties.

Speaking at the lecture, the Apapa customs Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu charges the officers to always ensure that, as public servants, they act in the best interests of the citizens and stakeholders that they serve.

While admonishing officers on the need to always be transparent and be accountable in their various posts, Compt Olomu said
“Transparency and Accountability are not just ideals, they are essential pillars that support good governance and ensure that public servants act in the best interests of the citizens they serve.

“As we all know, Transparency & Accountability are the cornerstone of effective and responsible administration.
Therefore, this lecture comes at a critical time when our nation is striving to strengthen its institutions to promote a culture of uprightness in the Public sector.
“Together, we can work towards a more transparent and accountable public service that upholds the values of ethics, responsibility and professionalism”

Also speaking, the representative of the Resident Commissioner for ICPC Lagos, Mrs. Florence Bariboloka encouraged officers to always live within their means and avoid unnecessary pressure from pair groups and society, a development which she described as the beginning of corruption and amassing undue wealth.

“Don’t allow anyone to put you under pressure, especially your family members, when you go to the village, they would expects you to arrive in a very big jeep just because you are a customs officer, they expect you to own a big house. Don’t define your self by that

“When such an officer gets to his duty post, he would under pressure, where he is supposed to quote N1million, he would be demanding N3million”

She 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 entrench transparency and accountability; even as she encouraged participants show humility and apologise for wrong doings.

The Assistant Commissioner 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.

She charged the Apapa customs boss, Compt Olomu, in collaboration with the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) of the command, to always recognise and reward officers who have distinguish themselves with good conduct, adding that this would further encourage others to always live up to expectations