Customs Boss Introduces New Initiative For Officers

Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr Wale Adeniyi, on Saturday inaugurated  the Work-Life Balance” initiative.

The initiative saw officers of the NCS and other invited guests taking brisk walks from the Customs Headquarters in
Wuse Zone 3, Abuja to its newly constructed but yet to be occupied headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.

According to Adeniyi, it is to promote mental and physical well-being of officers and men of the NCS.

He said that the theme of Saturday’s exercise was “balancing for better tomorrow ”.

He said that the initiative represented the NCS ‘s commitment to consolidation, collaboration and innovation.

“As officers and men, we come under a lot of pressure to fulfil various obligations.

“Most of the time, this pressure comes from our work spaces, emanating from the nature of our tasks which are usually mentally demanding and physically exhausting.

“Our operatives across the country work under conditions that do not promote good health.

“Those living in big cites are forced to acquire lifestyles where their commitment is awkwardly skewed in favour of work at the expense of their well-being, ” he said.

The acting Comptroller-General said that the result of such imbalance showed in the preponderance of reported cases of medical conditions affecting the workforce.

“We have witnessed an increase in reported cases of avoidable diseases like low blood sugar, high blood sugar, blood pressure, weight control and obesity.

“A conscious effort to improve the health conditions of Customs officers could be promoted and achieved through their lifestyles,” he said.

According to him, over the years, the NCS has established 32 clinics and medical centres across the country to take care of our health needs.

“While this has proven to be an effective strategy, a more sustainable approach lies in our effort to a healthy work-life balance among our officers, ” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants at the physical fitness routine that characterised the work-life balance initiative included representatives of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the Chief of Army Staff.

Others were representatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Correctional Service,and7 the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), among others.

(NAN)