The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has called for the immediate suspension of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) recruitment exercise over alleged breaches of federal character principles, demanding an investigation into complaints from candidates excluded from training.
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The Chairman of the FCC Financial Services Committee, Abdulwasiu Bawa-Allah, made the call during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday. He said the commission was not invited to monitor the recruitment exercise under its constitutional mandate.
Bawa-Allah said hundreds of candidates whose names appeared on the published final recruitment lists had completed screening, documentation and medical examinations but were not invited for training. He said the development had fuelled anxiety and allegations of manipulation.
According to him, some affected candidates resigned from their jobs, trained replacements and incurred expenses because they expected their selection to lead to training and formal employment.
The FCC chairman publicly said the NCS acknowledged complaints 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 did not satisfactorily address the commission’s concerns. He also alleged that correspondence about the matter was ignored and attempts to engage the service were treated dismissively.
Bawa-Allah cited Paragraph 8(1) of Part I, Section C of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as the basis for the FCC’s intervention. The provision empowers the commission to develop equitable distribution formulas for public service positions and monitor compliance with proportional representation.
He said the commission’s procedures require federal institutions to invite it to monitor recruitment exercises. He added that successful candidates should be reconciled with approved distribution formulas covering all states and the Federal Capital Territory before a Certificate of Compliance is issued.
The NCS published final recruitment lists for the Superintendent, Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres between July 28 and July 30, 2026, Bawa-Allah said. He argued that candidates who met the stated requirements were entitled to transparent treatment and explanations if they were later disqualified.
He also cited reports that more than 500 candidates might have been excluded while people whose names were not on the published lists reportedly received invitations to attend training. He said these claims raised questions requiring review, but stressed that the FCC was not asking authorities to recruit unqualified applicants.
Instead, he said, the commission wanted qualified Nigerians from every part of the country to receive fair consideration through transparent and verifiable procedures. The aim, he added, was to uphold merit while ensuring equitable representation.
Bawa-Allah called on the NCS and the Comptroller-General of Customs to suspend the training exercise and submit relevant recruitment records to the commission. He demanded evidence of a Certificate of Compliance and reconciliation of the published final lists with the names of candidates invited for training.
He urged the service to cooperate with the FCC’s Committee on Financial Services and any lawful investigation, and called for verified irregularities to be corrected. He said the commission could use its investigative, compliance and enforcement powers under the Constitution, the FCC Establishment Act and recruitment guidelines.
What candidates should do
Candidates should monitor official NCS and FCC announcements for verified updates and keep copies of their application details, published shortlist, screening records and any correspondence. Anyone affected should use complaint channels to seek clarification and avoid relying on unverified social media claims or paying intermediaries. The FCC’s call is a demand for suspension and investigation; it does not, by itself, confirm that the recruitment has been suspended or that any candidate has been reinstated.
