The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has resolved to suspend Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) recruitment activities indefinitely over alleged irregularities in its 2024/2025 exercise, including complaints that more than 500 successful applicants were excluded from training.
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The decision was reached at the Commission’s 330th Plenary Session, following a dispute over the recruitment process and the FCC’s demand for an independent audit of the records.
The exercise attracted 573,680 applicants, from whom the NCS announced 3,852 successful candidates across the Superintendent, Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres. The final lists were published between July 28 and 30, 2026. Training was scheduled to begin on October 9.
However, more than 500 candidates reportedly said they had completed screening and documentation, undergone medical examinations and appeared on the published lists, but were not invited to training. Some allegedly resigned from jobs, trained replacements and incurred expenses in anticipation of joining the Service.
Other allegations claimed that candidates whose names were absent from the final lists received training invitations, while listed applicants were left out. These claims have not been independently established and require investigation.
The FCC said the controversy raises concerns about transparency, equitable representation and compliance with the constitutional Federal Character Principle.
Bawa-Allah also stressed that federal character is not a demand to appoint unqualified candidates. It is a safeguard to ensure eligible applicants from across Nigeria receive fair consideration and accountability. The Commission says no agency should decide alone whether its own recruitment complied with the representation rules, while excluding the body constitutionally tasked with monitoring that compliance.
Why FCC intervention matters
Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution requires the composition and conduct of the Federal Government and its agencies to reflect Nigeria’s federal character, promote national unity and prevent domination by a few states or sectional groups.
Paragraph 8(1)(a) and (b) of Part I of the Third Schedule assigns the FCC responsibilities for equitable distribution of public service positions and monitoring and enforcing proportional representation. The Federal Character Commission (Establishment, etc.) Act also provides powers to issue guidelines, monitor compliance, investigate violations and pursue legal measures.
According to the Commission, Customs conducted the exercise without inviting the FCC to monitor it, despite repeated attempts to engage the Service, obtain information and seek clarification. The FCC said its correspondence and requests for dialogue were ignored or rebuffed.
Customs defends screening
The NCS has argued that appearing on a published list does not automatically guarantee appointment or admission to training, as further checks may be required on documents, age, medical status and physical fitness.
The Service reportedly said 397 applicants were screened out over concerns involving substance use, fitness, medical records, age and submitted documents. Its explanations referenced hepatitis B, high blood pressure and suspected documentation irregularities. It also alleged that some applicants tried to use unofficial channels to secure recruitment.
Customs has said it would review complaints case by case and that wrongly excluded candidates could be reinstated if they meet the requirements.
The issue, the FCC says, is not whether Customs can conduct screening, but whether decisions were transparent, justified and subject to oversight.
Audit and suspension demand
The FCC has called for suspension of the training exercise pending an independent audit. It wants applications, examination results, screening and verification records, final lists, training invitations and information on candidates’ states and local government areas of origin.
It also seeks clarification about the required certificate of compliance and reconciliation of published lists with those invited to training. The records, the Commission says, should establish whether the rules were followed and enable verified errors to be corrected.
The Commission’s resolution comes amid broader efforts to strengthen monitoring. At the same plenary, it approved, subject to corrections, Standard Operating Procedures for monitoring recruitment, promotion and scholarship exercises across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
What applicants and the public should do
Affected applicants should keep copies of their application details, published-list evidence, screening and medical documents, invitations, correspondence and any explanations received. They should rely on official NCS and FCC channels for updates and avoid paying anyone who promises reinstatement or access.
People with information about possible federal character violations may submit complaints through the FCC’s whistleblower portal: https://whistleblower.fcc.gov.ng/submit-complaint. The portal supports anonymous submissions.
The FCC says it will pursue the matter through available procedures and legal avenues.
