FCC ask Customs to stop recruitment training over 500 candidates wey dem leave out
- Federal Character Commission want Nigeria Customs to suspend recruitment training sharp sharp.
- E talk say over 500 candidates wey dey di final list dem publish no get invitation for training.
- Customs talk say e go bring back anybody wey dem remove wrongly and e deny say di process no fair.
Di Federal Character Commission (FCC) don ask di Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to suspend di recruitment training wey dey go on, saying more dan 500 candidates wey dia names dey di final list wey dem publish no get invitation.
Di chairman of FCC Financial Services Committee, Abdulwasiu Bawa-Allah, make di demand for one press conference for Abuja on Thursday. E talk say di situation don cause anxiety among applicants and raise questions about how dem handle di exercise.
Training for successful candidates start on 9 October 2026.
Customs publish final lists for Superintendent, Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres between 28 and 30 July 2026. According to FCC, dat publication make candidates believe say dem go move go training once dem meet di requirements.
Bawa-Allah talk say some of di affected applicants don resign from dia jobs, train replacements and spend money dey expect employment. "Dem do all dis with di expectation say dia published selection go lead to training and formal employment," e talk.
Wetin FCC want
Di commission dey demand di recruitment records, including examination results, screening documents, final selection lists, training invitations and state-of-origin details. E also want Customs to explain how candidates move from di published list to di training list, and to show evidence of Certificate of Compliance.
Bawa-Allah talk say dem no invite FCC to monitor di exercise, despite its constitutional role to enforce federal character for federal appointments. E talk say letters to Customs about di commission concerns dem ignore.
"No public institution dey above di Constitution," e talk. E stress say FCC no dey ask make dem recruit unqualified candidates. "Federal Character no replace merit," e talk.
FCC also urge affected candidates to remain peaceful and submit dia records for investigation.
Customs responds
Customs spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada tell BBC Hausa say to appear for di published list no mean say employment dey automatic. E talk say candidates still get to pass checks on age, physical fitness, medical condition and documents.
Maiwada talk say some of those wey dey complain try use unofficial channels to get in, na why dem remove dem. E add say dem find some applicants wey get Hepatitis B or high blood pressure, while others allegedly submit fake credentials or pass age limit.
E assure say anybody wey dem exclude wrongly go get reinstatement. "If we find say dem remove any candidate erroneously, we go promptly reinstate dem," e talk.
Customs bin talk earlier for 19 October statement say dem dey review complaints and go engage aggrieved applicants. FCC describe dat response as unsatisfactory.
Di recruitment start for December 2024 and draw 573,680 applications. Customs announce 3,852 successful candidates for July 2026.
Wetin go happen next
FCC talk say e go use its investigative and enforcement powers if dem confirm violations. Di outcome go decide whether dem go reinstate any applicants and whether di training go continue as scheduled.
