The National Public Relations Officer Of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada And The Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi
KOREDE DAMIFOGO
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), on Wednesday, explained that the service cancelled promotion examination for rank of Superintendent of Customs (SC) to Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC), to maintain and sustain the credibility of the exam.
The service had, on Tuesday, cancelled the exam over malpractices and irregularities.
The service in a memo dated 15th October 2024, stated that the exam was rescheduled to November 8th, 2024 and restricted to Lagos and Abuja centres.
“The Management of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) wishes to notify all eligible candidates for promotion to the rank of Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) that the 2024 Computer Based Test (CBT) held on Tue 20 Aug 24 has been cancelled.
“This decision was made after a thorough review and investigation of the examination process, which uncovered significant technical and administrative challenges that compromised the reliability of the exercise. In line with the NCS Management’s commitment to maintaining integrity in its promotion processes, another CBT has been scheduled for eligible officers vying for the rank of CSC,” the memo read.
However, speaking on Wednesday, the National Public Relations Officer of the service, Abdullahi Maiwada, said the exam wasn’t cancelled to favour any region in the country.
According to him, the exam being a Computer Based Test (CBT), cannot be manipulated or interfered with by anyone.
“I will like to say that the exam was written among different ranks but the rank between Superintendent of Customs (SC) to Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) was the most complicated part of the exam which was marred by irregularities but because we have set standards to make sure this process is credible and devoid of any kind of irregularities was the reason the management has decided to cancel the exams and for officers to write in two locations – Abuja and Lagos.
“Now, for someone to say the exam was cancelled to favour a particular region is malicious, false information being circulated by someone that’s out to destroy the credibility of the process.
“The process is transparent because it’s a CBT exam and as you submit, you get your score of what you have done. The database and the process is not what someone can interfere or manipulate,” he stated
He, therefore, argued that the examination has over the years maintained high standard that all applicants get results of exam written immediately.
“I want to assure you that this is a credible process, so the question that the essence of the exam was to favour a particular region is totally uncalled for and not what we are out for. It’s a CBT exam and there are standards of what to score and if you score below that, you wont get the promotion. We are out for a credible process and we will continue to sustain the credibility of the promotion exam,” he ended.