The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has requested that the Nigeria Customs Service suspend its current recruitment training programme, citing alleged breaches of the country’s federal character rules.
The FCC’s directive comes after an internal review of the Customs Service’s hiring process revealed that the selection criteria and candidate shortlists may not have complied with the statutory requirement to ensure equitable representation from all Nigerian states and regions.
Federal character rules, introduced to promote inclusivity in public service, mandate that appointments and promotions reflect the diverse ethnic, regional and religious composition of the nation. The FCC monitors compliance across federal agencies to prevent over‑representation of any single group.
By suspending the training, the FCC aims to allow the Customs Service to reassess its recruitment procedures and align them with the federal character framework before any new appointments are made.
No official statements from the Customs Service or the FCC have been released at this time, and the suspension is expected to remain in effect until the agency can demonstrate full compliance with the federal character guidelines.
<small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
