FCC institutes criminal proceedings against Customs, CG over recruitment

The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has instituted criminal proceedings against the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and its Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged violations of the Federal Character Commission Act in the Service’s 2025/2026 recruitment exercise.

The legal action follows the Commission’s efforts to obtain relevant recruitment records, monitor the exercise and ensure compliance with the constitutional principle of equitable representation in public institutions.

In the charge, the Commission alleges that the Nigeria Customs Service failed to provide requested recruitment records, including nominal rolls, despite a formal request dated March 25, 2026.

It further accuses the Service of failing to submit relevant stages of the recruitment exercise to the Commission for monitoring, as required by law.

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The Commission also alleges that the Customs Service disregarded its directive of October 23, 2026, which ordered the suspension of specified recruitment and training activities pending a review.

Additionally, the charge accuses the Service of failing to provide clear recruitment criteria and comprehensive eligibility guidelines, thereby preventing the Commission from determining the distribution of available vacancies across states and geopolitical zones.

The FCC maintained that monitoring recruitment exercises, accessing relevant employment records and ensuring equitable representation are statutory responsibilities that public institutions are required to fulfil.

It stressed that compliance with the Federal Character principle is not optional, but a legal obligation designed to promote fairness, inclusiveness and balanced representation in public appointments and recruitment.

The allegations are contained in the charge instituted before the Federal High Court, while the matter is now subject to judicial determination.

(TVC)