The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has known as on the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to droop its ongoing recruitment coaching over allegations that greater than 500 candidates whose names appeared on the revealed closing record had been excluded from the train.
The fee additionally demanded full recruitment data from the NCS to find out whether or not the train complied with constitutional provisions on federal character, equitable illustration and transparency.
The growth comes amid rising controversy over the exclusion of candidates who reportedly handed the required examinations and accomplished screening and documentation, but weren’t invited to coaching, which commenced on October 9, 2026.
However, the Customs Service has promised to reinstate candidates discovered to have been wrongly disqualified, whereas accusing some aggrieved candidates of trying to safe employment by means of unofficial channels.
The Chairman of the FCC Financial Services Committee, Abdulwasiu Bawa-Allah, disclosed the fee’s place throughout a press convention in Abuja.
He expressed concern over reviews that some candidates whose names appeared on the revealed closing recruitment record had been subsequently excluded, whereas people allegedly absent from the record acquired invites for coaching.
According to him, among the affected candidates had reportedly resigned from their jobs, skilled replacements and incurred substantial bills in anticipation of their employment by the service.
Bawa-Allah stated the state of affairs had generated nervousness amongst candidates and raised considerations about potential manipulation of the recruitment course of.
He additionally faulted the NCS for allegedly conducting the train with out inviting the fee to watch it, regardless of its constitutional duty to advertise and implement compliance with the Federal Character Principle in federal appointments.
The FCC demanded the examination outcomes, screening paperwork, closing choice lists, coaching invites and different related data, together with state-of-origin and native authorities particulars, to ascertain whether or not the recruitment complied with the prescribed pointers.
It additionally requested the Customs Service to clarify the factors used to maneuver candidates from the revealed closing record to the coaching record and whether or not a legitimate Certificate of Compliance was obtained earlier than coaching invites had been issued.
Bawa-Allah maintained that the fee was not demanding the employment of unqualified candidates however insisting that certified Nigerians from all elements of the nation ought to obtain equitable consideration.
He stated, “These questions concern constitutional compliance, administrative justice, institutional accountability and safety towards arbitrary acts. The Nigeria Customs Service revealed closing recruitment lists for the Superintendent, Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres between 28 and 30 July 2026.
“That publication created a respectable expectation that candidates who met the ultimate disclosed circumstances could be handled transparently and notified, with causes, of any subsequent disqualification.
“Reports that greater than 500 candidates might have been excluded whereas allegedly unlisted individuals acquired coaching invites increase critical questions. Some media have reported that the affected candidates fashioned a gaggle of roughly 500 individuals who had efficiently accomplished the required phases with out receiving invites for coaching which begun on 9 October 2026.
“The publication additionally acknowledged that its makes an attempt to acquire a response from the Nigeria Customs Service had been unsuccessful. For readability, the Commission is just not asking that unqualified candidates be recruited. Federal Character doesn’t substitute benefit.
“It requires suitably qualified candidates from all parts of Nigeria to receive equitable opportunities through transparent, verifiable and nationally inclusive procedures.”
The fee subsequently demanded that the NCS instantly droop the continuing coaching, reconcile the revealed closing recruitment record with the record of candidates invited for coaching and supply written explanations to candidates whose names had been omitted.
It additionally requested the service to provide proof of any Certificate of Compliance obtained earlier than issuing coaching invites and clarify why the recruitment train proceeded with out the fee’s monitoring and oversight.
The FCC warned that it could invoke its investigative, compliance and enforcement mechanisms to deal with any established violations.
It urged affected candidates to stay peaceable and submit their appointment data, revealed recruitment lists, correspondence, screening paperwork and different related proof for investigation.
The fee additional warned towards makes an attempt to intimidate or victimise candidates in search of administrative justice.
Bawa-Allah stated, “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.”
Responding to the controversy, the NCS stated some candidates protesting their exclusion had tried to realize employment by means of unofficial channels.
The service’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed this in an interview with BBC Hausa, explaining that showing on a printed record didn’t robotically assure employment.
According to him, candidates had been required to move extra screening checks earlier than they may proceed to coaching.
He stated some candidates had been disqualified for failing to fulfill prescribed necessities, together with age limits, bodily health, medical assessments and documentation requirements.
“Among those who are currently complaining, some attempted to use backdoor channels to gain entry, which is why they were removed,” the spokesman stated.
Maiwada, nevertheless, assured candidates who believed they’d been unjustly excluded that their complaints could be investigated.
“If we find that any candidate was removed erroneously, we will promptly reinstate them,” he stated.
The spokesperson defined that the recruitment course of included drug assessments, age verification, medical assessments and different checks to find out candidates’ eligibility.
He added that some candidates had been reportedly discovered to have medical circumstances, together with Hepatitis B and hypertension, whereas others allegedly submitted faux credentials or exceeded the stipulated age restrict.
“It is important to understand that being invited for screening does not mean you have automatically secured the job,” he stated.
Maiwada additionally addressed reviews that some candidates had resigned from their earlier jobs after seeing their names on the profitable candidates’ record, solely to be excluded throughout subsequent screening.
He stated the service had warned candidates towards leaving their current employment earlier than finishing the recruitment course of.
“We warned them not to terminate their current employment because being invited to this stage does not guarantee a job,” he stated.
He added that candidates intending to go away their jobs had been suggested to liaise with their employers and adjust to the required discover preparations.
According to him, candidates who move the screening train should nonetheless meet the necessities of the coaching programme earlier than being commissioned as customs officers.
He listed examinations, parade drills, firearms coaching and customs operational programs among the many necessities recruits should efficiently full.
The controversy has renewed questions on transparency and compliance with federal character necessities within the recruitment of personnel into federal companies.
In a press release dated October 19, 2026, titled “Nigeria Customs Reviews Recruitment Complaints, Opens Door for Engagement with Aggrieved Applicants,” the NCS acknowledged receiving complaints from candidates who participated within the recruitment train however had been subsequently excluded.
The service introduced plans to interact affected candidates, though the FCC described its rationalization as unsatisfactory.
The fee alleged that its makes an attempt to interact the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and acquire related recruitment data had been ignored or rebuffed.
It maintained that federal establishments had been required to ask the fee to watch recruitment workout routines and reconcile profitable candidates with the permitted distribution method throughout the states and the Federal Capital Territory earlier than a Certificate of Compliance might be issued.
The FCC stated its mandate was derived from the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the Federal Character Commission Establishment Act.
According to Bawa-Allah, Paragraph 8 of Part I of the Third Schedule to the Constitution empowers the fee to formulate equitable formulation for distributing public service positions and to advertise, monitor and implement proportional illustration.
He added that the fee’s enabling legislation empowered it to demand employment returns, examine recruitment workout routines and implement compliance with its pointers.
The Federal Character Principle is meant to advertise equity and nationwide unity by guaranteeing that employment alternatives in federal establishments are distributed equitably amongst Nigerians.
The Customs recruitment train attracted 573,680 purposes, from which the service introduced 3,852 profitable candidates in July 2026.
The recruitment lined three entry cadres: Superintendent, Inspectorate and Customs Assistant.
The NCS subsequently invited profitable candidates for bodily screening and documentation on the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College in Gwagwalada, Abuja, in September, after which some candidates acquired invites for coaching.
In August, Adeniyi defended the recruitment course of, saying the allocation of profitable candidates was equal throughout the 36 states of the federation.
However, allegations that candidates whose names appeared on the revealed closing record had been excluded from coaching have positioned the train below renewed scrutiny.
The FCC has known as for the reconciliation of the revealed recruitment record with the coaching record, whereas the Customs Service has maintained that every one candidates should fulfill the stipulated necessities earlier than employment.
The final result of the fee’s calls for and the NCS investigation will decide whether or not any candidates had been wrongly excluded and whether or not corrective motion is critical.
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