FCC Orders Suspension of Customs Recruitment Training Over Alleged Irregularities
The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has asked the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to suspend its ongoing recruitment training over alleged violations of federal character requirements and the exclusion of some candidates whose names appeared on the published final recruitment list.
The commission also demanded comprehensive recruitment records, evidence of compliance with federal character regulations and written explanations for candidates who were omitted from the training exercise.
The demands were contained in a statement issued on Friday and signed by the Chairman of the FCC Committee on Financial Services, Abdulwasiu K. Bawa-Allah.
The commission expressed concern over reports that hundreds of candidates who had completed the required screening, documentation and medical examinations were not invited for training, while some individuals whose names allegedly did not appear on the published final list received invitations.
According to the commission, the development has triggered anxiety among affected applicants, raised allegations of manipulation and undermined public confidence in the recruitment process.
It noted that some candidates reportedly resigned from their jobs, trained replacements and incurred substantial expenses in anticipation of their formal engagement with the Customs Service.
The FCC faulted the service for allegedly conducting the recruitment exercise without its monitoring and oversight, despite repeated attempts by the commission to obtain information about the process.
“The constitutionally mandated institution (FCC) to monitor and ascertain its claims was not invited to monitor the exercise,” the statement said.
The commission further alleged that efforts to engage the Comptroller-General of Customs on the matter had been rebuffed or ignored.
It maintained that its oversight responsibilities were backed by the 1999 Constitution and the Federal Character Commission Establishment Act, which empower it to monitor and enforce compliance with the federal character principle in recruitment and appointments across federal institutions.
The FCC explained that its participation was necessary to ensure transparency and equitable distribution of employment opportunities among qualified Nigerians.
“The Federal Character Commission is not an advisory body that federal establishments may recognize only when convenient,” it said.
According to the commission, federal institutions are required to invite it to monitor recruitment exercises and reconcile successful candidates with the approved distribution formula for all states and the Federal Capital Territory before a certificate of compliance is issued.
It said the safeguards were designed to protect merit, fairness and transparency while ensuring that qualified applicants were considered without discrimination based on state of origin, ethnicity, religion, political affiliation or social connections.
The commission consequently questioned why the Customs Service proceeded with the exercise without its participation and whether a valid certificate of compliance had been obtained before invitations for training were issued.
It also requested clarification on the criteria used to determine which candidates progressed from the published final list to the training list, including whether applicants who had completed the prescribed recruitment stages were subsequently excluded without formal explanations.
The statement said the Customs Service published final recruitment lists for the Superintendent, Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres between July 28 and 30, 2026.
The FCC argued that the publication created a legitimate expectation that candidates who satisfied the stated requirements would be treated transparently and given reasons for any subsequent disqualification.
Citing reports that more than 500 candidates may have been excluded, the commission said the affected applicants had reportedly completed the required recruitment stages before the training commenced on October 9.
However, it stressed that its intervention was not intended to compel the recruitment of unqualified applicants but to ensure that merit was balanced with equitable representation.
“For clarity, the Commission is not asking that unqualified candidates be recruited. Federal Character does not replace merit.
“It requires suitably qualified candidates from all parts of Nigeria to receive equitable opportunities through transparent, verifiable and nationally inclusive procedures,” the statement added.
The commission directed the Customs Service to immediately suspend the training and submit comprehensive recruitment records, including applications, examination results, screening documents, final selection records and training invitations, alongside candidates’ states of origin and local government areas.
It also demanded evidence of any certificate of compliance obtained before the training invitations were issued, as well as a reconciliation of the published final recruitment list with the list of candidates invited for training.
Furthermore, the FCC requested that every omitted candidate be given a written explanation of their recruitment status. It urged the Customs Service to cooperate with its Committee on Financial Services and any investigation lawfully instituted.
Warning that it could invoke its statutory powers, the commission said it would deploy available investigative, compliance and enforcement mechanisms under the Constitution, its enabling legislation and applicable recruitment guidelines.
“The Commission will invoke the investigative, compliance and enforcement mechanisms available under the Constitution, the Federal Character Commission Establishment Act and applicable recruitment guidelines.
“Compliance with constitutional safeguards is an obligation, not an act of institutional courtesy,” it said.
The commission also appealed to affected applicants to remain peaceful and submit relevant appointment records, published-list details, correspondence and screening documents through the appropriate channels.
It assured applicants that their complaints would be assessed on their individual merits and warned against any attempt to intimidate or victimise candidates seeking administrative justice.
Reaffirming its position, the FCC said federal recruitment opportunities should not be determined by personal connections, political influence or preferential treatment.
It maintained that the federal character principle was intended to promote national unity by ensuring that employment opportunities in federal institutions were distributed equitably among qualified Nigerians.
“No public institution is above the Constitution. No Chief Executive may exclude lawful oversight. No qualified Nigerian should lose a legitimate opportunity for lack of political influence or powerful connections,” the commission said.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Nigeria Customs Service spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, were unsuccessful as he could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report.
