Customs Cancels Promotion Exam For Senior Officers Over Malpractice

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Tuesday, cancelled the computer based test (CBT) examination conducted for officers of the rank of Superintendent of Customs (SC) who sat to be promoted to Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC).

In an internal memo dated 15th October, 2024, sighted by our Correspondent, the examination conducted on August 20th, 2024 has been cancelled and November 8th approved as the tentative date.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the August 20 exam was marred with irregularities and malpractices, thereby, prompting the management to cancel it.

In the memo titled, ‘Cancelation of the 2024 promotion examination for the rank of Superintendent of Customs,’ reads, the service, disclosed that November 8 has been chosen as a tentative date for the exam that will be held only in Lagos and Abuja centre

The memo read, “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 examination is tentatively set for 8th November, 2024 and will be held in Abuja and Lagos. Eligible candidates will be divided into two groups.

“Cluster A: Officers serving at the HQ (Abuja), Zone B and Zone D will take their exam in Abuja. Cluster B: Officers serving in Zone A and Zone C wil take their exam in Lagos.

“A detailed schedule of activity will be published in due course,” the memo signed by the deputy comptroller general of Customs, Human Resources, G.A Itohoh stated.

However, affected officers have pleaded with the management team of the service not to outrightly cancel the promotion examination.

According to one of the affected officers who craved anonymity said the authority knows where irregularities occurred, hence, everyone shouldn’t be punished for the offence of a few people.

“They cheated in a particular region of the country and everyone knows that but we in Zone A and C shouldn’t be punished for the atrocities of others,” the source stated.