…Outstanding officers promoted to next ranks
Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), and Ondo State Commands of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have emerged as co-winners ot the first edition of Best Performing Commands of the anti narcotics Agency.
This was disclosed by the NDLEA’s Chairman / Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General. Mohammed Buba Marwa (RTD), OFR during the presentation of best performing Commands for March/ April 2021 and Presentation of Letters of commendations to outstanding officers and men at the NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja on Monday.
In his remarks during the event, Marwa said it was in keeping faith with that reward scheme he initiated shortly after assumption of office.
“This was why when I took over in January; I made it a cardinal objective to find ways of motivating the NDLEA personnel to go the extra mile required. That informed the strategic decision, among others, to institute a bi-monthly assessment of Best Performing Command Award to motivate our officers and men,” he said.
He added, “it is heartwarming to know that the Best Performing Command Award this time around, has two Commands as joint winners. The MMIA Command and the Ondo State Command are the joint winners.
The NDLEA Chairman noted that with the dangerous nature of NDLEA’S mandate motivation is crucial to achieving its objectives added that the biggest concern for an organisation such as NDLEA was often on how to increase its productivity, organisational efficiency and how to ensure a loyal workforce, he added that there is no gainsaying that motivation is crucial to achieving these objectives.
“The biggest concern for an organisation such as ours is often on how to increase its productivity, organisational efficiency and how to ensure a loyal workforce. There is no gainsaying that motivation is crucial to achieving these objectives. And this bears repeating: for the kind of work that officers and men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, do, motivation is the catalyst to their productivity and loyalty to duty.”
The NDLEA boss who reiterated the difficulties associated with task of combating drug trafficking and drug abuse in the country noted, “The world over, the task of combating drug trafficking and curbing drug abuse is demanding. The nature of the job demands of the narcotic agent great sacrifice, unwavering dedication and a keen sense of duty borne out of the understanding that his effort is crucial to keeping the society safe from the scourge of illicit substances.
“In Nigeria, the call of duty for the NDLEA operative is twice as demanding, given the country’s dire drug profile, a drug abuse prevalence of 14.4 per cent which is nearly three times the global average. The magnitude of trafficking and abuse of illicit substances in Nigeria calls for a highly motivated workforce of anti-drug officers and men who are strongly committed to cleaning the Augean stable. It is in light of this, that any act or gesture that is an appreciation of their effort is a veritable morale booster for the anti-drug operative. Such a gesture will galvanise them to further dedicate themselves to the job,” he said.
Some of the criteria used to determine award winners are as follows :
a. Arrest and seizures.
b. Bravery.
c. Rejection of financial and other inducements.
d. Assets and financial investigations of the Command.
e. Management of seized assets.
f. Drug demand reduction activities.
g. Convictions.
h. Innovations.
i. Synergy with other security agencies.
Beyond the best performing Command recognitions, Marwa said, “we are also extending commendations to the officers and men whose works and dedication to duty have impacted the performance of their various commands. To this end, a number of personnel have been specially selected based on recommendations, from MMIA, FCT, Ondo, Kogi, NAIA, Kano and Kaduna State commands. They shall be getting letters of commendation and other incentives.”
