When customs administrations evolve beyond their traditional border protection role to become more inclusive and diverse workplaces, what potential might be unlocked? The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is actively exploring this transformative path through strategic collaboration with the World Customs Organization (WCO), working to establish a work environment that respects differences and promotes equal opportunities.
Gender Equality and Diversity Strategy Under the West Africa Security Program
From October 28 to November 1, 2024, the WCO conducted follow-up activities in Nigeria's capital Abuja to advance Gender Equality and Diversity (GED) implementation within the NCS. This initiative forms a crucial component of the West Africa Security Program (WASP), funded by Germany's Federal Foreign Office and implemented through partnership between WCO and Germany's Central Customs Administration.
The program's core objective focuses on creating workplaces that value diversity while ensuring equal treatment and opportunity. A key emphasis involves supporting participating customs administrations in developing and implementing tailored GED action plans.
Refining the Action Plan Through Regional Expertise
A WCO delegation featuring experts from Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) engaged in intensive discussions with various NCS departments, including the NCS GED Committee and senior management. These meetings focused on refining the draft NCS GED Action Plan developed after Nigeria's participation in WCO's high-level sub-regional workshop last April.
The updated action plan now better addresses several critical requirements:
- Policy framework enhancement: Clarifying GED policy principles and implementation guidelines to align with national laws and international standards
- Training system development: Establishing continuous GED education programs to improve customs officers' understanding of equality concepts
- Complaint mechanism accessibility: Ensuring effective channels for reporting discrimination or unfair treatment
- Data collection and analysis: Implementing systems to monitor gender representation and diversity metrics
- Organizational culture transformation: Promoting an environment that values differences and eliminates unconscious bias
GED Training: Building Awareness and Understanding
The initiative included specialized GED training for approximately 70 NCS officers across all ranks. The comprehensive curriculum covered:
- Fundamental concepts of gender equality and common misconceptions
- The value of diversity across cultural, ethnic, religious and orientation differences
- Gender-specific challenges in customs operations, including career advancement barriers
- Practical strategies for mainstreaming GED in customs policies and procedures
- International best practices from successful implementations
Participants reported the training provided practical insights for applying GED principles in daily operations, with many describing the content as both enlightening and immediately applicable.
Strategic Recommendations and Future Directions
The WCO proposed several measures to reinforce GED awareness across all NCS personnel, including completion of the CliKC! GED e-learning modules. These recommendations aim to embed GED values throughout the organization's culture and operations.
Future collaboration between WCO and NCS may include:
- Technical assistance for GED policy refinement
- Capacity-building workshops and training programs
- Sharing global best practices in customs diversity management
- Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to measure implementation progress
The Transformative Potential of Inclusive Customs Administration
Advancing gender equality and diversity in customs extends beyond ethical imperatives to deliver strategic operational benefits. Diverse customs teams demonstrate enhanced capacity to understand and serve traders and travelers from varied backgrounds, improving both enforcement effectiveness and service quality.
Gender-balanced workforces also leverage women's professional potential, injecting fresh perspectives into customs operations. Perhaps most significantly, inclusive organizational cultures attract and retain top talent, creating sustainable foundations for institutional excellence.
Nigeria's progressive approach establishes an important precedent for customs administrations across developing economies. Through continued partnership with WCO, the NCS is building a more equitable, efficient customs system positioned to support national economic growth and social development.