Federal character breach: FCC asks Customs to suspend training

The Federal Character Commission has requested the Nigeria Customs Service to halt its current recruitment training due to alleged violations of federal character requirements and the exclusion of candidates whose names were on the final published list. The commission is also demanding access to all recruitment records, proof of adherence to federal character principles, and written explanations for candidates who were left out of the training.

In a statement to PUNCH Online, the commission's Chairman, Abdulwasiu K. Bawa-Allah, expressed concern over the reports of hundreds of qualified candidates being left out of the training while others who did not even appear on the final list were invited. The commission contends that this situation has caused anxiety, accusations of manipulation, and a crisis of public confidence.

Some affected candidates reportedly resigned from their positions, hired replacements, and incurred significant expenses in anticipation of their future roles. The commission criticized the Customs Service for conducting the recruitment exercise without its monitoring and oversight, despite repeated attempts to obtain information about the process.

The commission's role in monitoring and enforcing compliance with the federal character principle is backed by the 1999 Constitution and the Federal Character Commission Establishment Act, allowing it to ensure transparency and equitable distribution of opportunities among qualified Nigerians.