Federal Character Commission Sues Nigeria Customs Service Over Recruitment Process

The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has filed a case against the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and its Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The FCC alleges that the NCS obstructed its recruitment oversight duties by withholding records, excluding it from stages of the recruitment process, and disregarding a directive to suspend specified activities. This directive was issued to allow the FCC to examine compliance with federal character requirements.

According to the FCC, the NCS failed to supply records despite receiving a request dated 25 March 2026 for recruitment documents, including nominal rolls. The commission also contends that the service proceeded with the recruitment process without presenting key stages for monitoring, preventing the FCC from carrying out its supervisory responsibilities. Furthermore, the FCC alleges that the NCS disregarded its directive of 23 October 2026 to halt specified recruitment and training activities pending a review.

The FCC also raises concerns about the recruitment criteria and eligibility requirements used by the NCS. The commission alleges that the service failed to provide sufficiently clear criteria and comprehensive guidelines, making it difficult for the FCC to establish how available positions would be distributed among states and geopolitical zones. The FCC maintains that access to relevant records and participation in recruitment monitoring form part of its statutory responsibilities.

The allegations follow an earlier public disagreement between the FCC and the NCS over candidates who appeared on recruitment lists but subsequently failed to receive training invitations. In its published position on 30 October, the FCC said more than 500 applicants had complained of exclusion despite claiming to have completed screening, documentation, and medical examinations. The commission also cited allegations that some people whose names did not appear on the published lists received training invitations.

The NCS had previously defended the need for further checks after shortlisting. In a statement reported on 19 October, its spokesman, Abdullahi Maiwada, said appearing on a published list did not automatically qualify an applicant for enlistment. He said candidates still had to satisfy requirements covering credentials, age, physical fitness, medical examinations, and drug screening.

The NCS announced a review of complaints involving 397 disqualified applicants after Adeniyi met some of those affected. Maiwada said the reassessment would consider individual complaints while retaining the prescribed recruitment standards. Customs also said applicants accepted for reconsideration would undergo fresh screening and that the review offered no automatic guarantee of admission to training.

The FCC argues that federal institutions must cooperate with its requirements when filling public-service positions. The commission seeks to ensure that the recruitment process is transparent and complies with federal character requirements. The case is currently pending at the Federal High Court in Abuja, and the FCC is seeking redress for the alleged obstruction of its oversight duties.

Key points

• The FCC alleges that the NCS withheld records and obstructed its recruitment oversight duties.
• The NCS had previously defended the need for further checks after shortlisting.
• The FCC seeks to ensure that the recruitment process is transparent and complies with federal character requirements.