FCC accuses Customs of bypassing federal character, demands suspension of recruitment training

The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has called for the immediate suspension of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) recruitment exercise over alleged violations of federal character principles and concerns about the exclusion of some shortlisted candidates from training.

The Chairman of the FCC’s Financial Services Committee, Abdulwasiu Bawa-Allah, made the demand at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, saying the commission was not invited to monitor the recruitment process as required by its procedures.

Bawa-Allah said the allegations surrounding the exercise warranted an investigation, particularly reports that hundreds of candidates whose names appeared on the published final lists were not invited for training despite completing screening, documentation and medical examinations.

He said the situation had triggered anxiety among affected applicants, raised allegations of manipulation and weakened public confidence in the recruitment process.

According to him, some candidates resigned from their jobs, trained replacements and incurred significant expenses in anticipation of their formal engagement after being listed as successful applicants.

“They did all these with the expectation that their published selection would lead to training and formal engagement,” he said.

Bawa-Allah noted that the NCS had acknowledged complaints about the recruitment exercise in a statement issued on October 19, titled “Nigeria Customs Reviews Recruitment Complaints, Opens Doors for Engagement with Aggrieved Applicants.” However, he said the response had not satisfactorily addressed the concerns raised.

He further alleged that the commission’s correspondence to the NCS regarding the recruitment process had been ignored and that attempts to engage the service had not received adequate consideration.

The FCC committee chairman stressed that the commission was a constitutional institution mandated to promote, monitor and enforce compliance with federal character principles in appointments and recruitment across ministries, departments and agencies.

He cited Paragraph 8(1) of Part I, Section C of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as the legal basis for the commission’s intervention.

According to him, the provision empowers the FCC to establish equitable distribution formulas for public service positions and ensure compliance with proportional representation principles.

Bawa-Allah said the commission’s recruitment procedures required federal institutions to invite it to monitor recruitment exercises. He added that successful candidates were expected to be reconciled with approved distribution formulas covering the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory before a Certificate of Compliance could be issued.

He described these measures as safeguards for merit, fairness, transparency and equal opportunities for qualified Nigerians, irrespective of their state of origin, ethnicity, religion, political affiliation or social connections.

“It is deeply troubling that the NCS conducted this exercise without the commission’s monitoring and oversight,” he said.

Bawa-Allah disclosed that the NCS published final recruitment lists for the Superintendent, Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres between July 28 and July 30, 2026.

He said the publication created an expectation among successful applicants that those who met the stated requirements would be treated transparently and informed of the reasons for any subsequent disqualification.

The FCC official added that reports suggesting that more than 500 candidates had been excluded, while individuals allegedly absent from the published lists received training invitations, raised serious questions about the exercise.

He, however, clarified that the commission was not demanding the recruitment of unqualified applicants but was seeking equitable opportunities for suitably qualified candidates from all parts of the country.

“For clarity, the commission is not asking that unqualified candidates be recruited. The FCC does not replace merit,” he said.

Bawa-Allah consequently urged the NCS and its Comptroller-General to suspend the training exercise immediately and submit relevant recruitment records to the commission for review.

He also demanded evidence of a Certificate of Compliance and a reconciliation of the published final recruitment lists with the names of candidates invited for training.

The chairman called on the service to cooperate with the FCC’s Committee on Financial Services and any investigation lawfully undertaken by the commission.

He further urged the NCS to correct any verified irregularities identified during the review.

Bawa-Allah warned that the FCC would invoke the investigative, compliance and enforcement mechanisms available under the Constitution, the FCC Establishment Act and applicable recruitment guidelines where necessary.

He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to fairness, equity, merit, transparency and justice in public sector recruitment.

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