By Lateef Ibrahim
The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has called for an immediate halt to the ongoing recruitment exercise by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), citing alleged violations of federal character principles.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Mr. Abdulwasiu Bawa-Allah, Chairman of the FCC’s Financial Services Committee, stated that the commission was sidelined during the recruitment process and that official correspondence sent to the service was ignored.
Our correspondent reports that key issues and allegations raised by the FCC include: “Exclusion of qualified candidates: hundreds of candidates who passed screening, documentation, and medical examinations—and whose names appeared on the published final list—were reportedly left out of training invitations.
“Disrupted Lives: Many affected applicants had resigned from previous jobs, trained replacements, and incurred heavy expenses based on the legitimate expectation of formal engagement.
“Potential Irregularities: Reports indicate that over 500 candidates may have been excluded, while unlisted individuals allegedly received invitations for training.
“Disregard for Due Process: The NCS failed to invite the FCC to monitor the exercise and obtain a mandatory Certificate of Compliance.”
The FCC noted that although the NCS issued a statement on October 19 addressing complaints, the FCC noted it failed to resolve core concerns.
Citing Paragraph 8(1) of Part I, Section C of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Bawa-Allah emphasized that the FCC is a constitutional body empowered to enforce proportional representation and equitable distribution across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The FCC has issued the following demands to the NCS and its Comptroller-General: Immediately suspend the ongoing training exercise, provide comprehensive recruitment records and evidence of a Certificate of Compliance, reconcile the published final list with the actual list of candidates invited for training, and cooperate fully with the FCC’s investigation and correct all verified irregularities.
Bawa-Allah concluded that the commission is not advocating for the recruitment of unqualified individuals, but rather striving to protect merit, transparency, and equitable opportunities for all qualified Nigerians.
He however, warned that the FCC is prepared to deploy its full constitutional and statutory enforcement mechanisms to address the situation.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
