Customs generally play a private role in the economic life of any county. There is hardly any sector of the economy that is not directly or indirectly by the activities of customs. The functions of the Nigeria customs service include, but not limited to the following:
– Collection of revenue (import/excise duties & other taxes (levies ) and accounting of same:
– Anti –smuggling activities
– Security functions
– Generating statistics for planning and budgetary purposes,
– Monitoring foreign exchange utilization etc
– Engaging in research planning and enforcement of fiscal polices of government
– Manifest processing
– Licensing and registration of customs agents
– Registration and designation of collecting banks and working in collaboration with other government agencies in all approved ports and border station
CHAPTER THREE
ROLE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
The most important requirement for a public relations practitioner is to be is to be aware of the political, social and economic environment in which he operator. He should equally considered the conflicts of interest which the majority of his publics suffer
the conflicting interests are those of the family, the community, government and company. But more often than not, the average Nigerian is a viction of divided loyalty and lacks identification with the government private employer using his services . those responsibilities vary in degree in different organizations as follows:
a. The public relations man helps the management to evaluat and interpret the opinions, attitude andaspirations of the various publics and the internal and external actitives of the organization
b. The manage crisis and issues
c. To organize a programme of action where the public express views on important new projects before final decision is reached.
d. To inform the populace of government policies and day to day activities
e. Reputation or image management : the planning and implementing of policies, procedures and strategies that demonstrate an organizations commitment to public and social responsibilities ethical behavior, corporate identity and reputation with key public
f. Issues management : This involves indentifying and then developing and executing a program to deal with them. Included is the study of public policy matters of concern to an organization
CHAPTER FOUR
IMAGE PROBLEM
From the research embacked on as a public relations student, statistics have shown have in a panoramic view that the Nigeria customs have image problem.
No doubt about that, the information and view of people randomly , uniformly or in the same manner have clearly without any form of bias shown or indicated that Nigeria customs have lapses in the cause of discharging their duty or in their operation.
As a matter of fact, there is every tendency for image repairing in Nigeria customs which pave a great way for reputation, where by reverse of image problem will be corrected for the betterment of the organization
THE WAY OUT
Now, knowing full well that public relations is every good tools for image repairing as a public relations student I adverse that Nigeria customs should allow public relation as a matter of urgency to work into Nigeria customs very well for them to bring out the good or the best in them for the betterment of organization and for the entire citizen of Nigeria.
Since we all know that public relation can make or mar the organization, Nigeria customs should allow public relations to have they full role of reputation or image management ; the planning and implementing of polices, procedures and strategies that demonstrate an organizations commitment to public and social responsibilities ethical behavior, Cooperate identify and reputation with key public.
CONCLUSION
Public relations as a management philosophy should be understood to include all effort towards achieving organization goals and objectives as a means of ensuring that all the department of other organization are made to understand that their actions are what other public will use in rating the organization
Whatever polices or rules, the institution has regarding promotion, discipline, dismissal and transfer should be followed strictly and accordingly to avoid lapses.
The organization should seek to operate in time or provide better motivational facilities than other similar organization. It is the researcher belief that public relations is a potent tool for marketing of goods and services for good reputation of any organization in the country.
REFERENCES
Benson Eluwa (1999) Public Relation: A Practical Approach
Published by Virgin Creation 4 Accra Street Uwani – Enugu, Chapter 1:3, 3:111=112
Nweke Okey F.F (2001) Public Relations Practice, Published, (A
Division of Hamson PAL AGNC LTD BOX 2223, Enugu) Chapter 1:1
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