by 
Col. Hameed Ali (rtd)
the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has appealed for a
separate budget for Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada for
the institution to realise its set out goals. Ali made the appeal at the Graduation
ceremony of Junior Course five of the college in Abuja on Friday.
Represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General
in charge of Finance, Administration and Technical Service, Mr Aminu
Dan-Galadima, the customs boss said the college is at the moment being funded
from the service’s inadequate budget. Ali said that similar institutions in the
military establishments have their autonomous funding as stipulated in their
establishment Acts. “We will be counting on the support of the Nigeria Customs
Service Board to work towards initiating appropriate legislative processes to
achieve this desired vision.
Ali underscored the need
to evaluate and review the courses offered by the institution to sustain its
regional and global set standard. “We have received expression of interest from
sister government agencies and other customs administration in West and Central
African regions of the world customs organisation. “It is our belief that such
reviews will accommodate their interests without compromising the laid down
standard. “Our long term vision will therefore capture the participation of
middle level customs officers from west and Central African countries”, he
said. Ali congratulated the graduands and urged them to put into practice what
they learnt in the college. In his remarks, the Commandant of the college,
Deputy Comptroller-General, David Chikan said that 40 students graduated from
junior course five. Chikan commended the customs boss’ effort on human capacity
development which he described as key in ensuring professionalism.
Source: (NAN) VANGUARD
