Leadership (Abuja)
Philip Nyam
17 July 2008
Abuja — The House of Representatives has summoned the minister of Interior, Major General Godwin Abbe (rtd), to appear before it tomorrow in connection with the death of applicants seeking recruitment into the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigeria Prison Services (NPS).
Also summoned along side the minister are the executive members of the Civil Defence Corps, Immigration and Prisons Board, who are involved in the conduct of the recruitment exercise.
Meanwhile, the House would today deliberate on a motion to stop on-line recruitment by government agencies. This followed a notice of matter of urgent importance raised by minority leader of the House; Hon Ali Mohammed Ndume, at yesterday's plenary.
Over 20 persons reportedly lost their lives, while several others were injured during the exercise held in various state capitals.
In a letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Mr. P.S. Nwosu on behalf of the Interior Ministry, House Committee on Interior noted, "They are being invited to give insights into the ongoing recruitment exercise of the Immigration and Prison services, where over 20 persons died and unaccountable number of persons suffered injuries."
The committee wanted key officials to brief it on the arrangements made for the exercise, as well as the details of the total number of persons that died or got injured.
In the motion on notice, Hon Ndume noted that the motion seeks to discourage recruitment through the internet because most rural dwellers were being affected.
A lot of people from the rural areas, he claimed, have been cut off from the online recruitment exercise because they did not have access to the internet in their various places of abode.
The minister assured Nigerians that the exercise, which was in the interest of all, was to ensure quality, fairness and federal character. The selection and recruitment of candidates were held in the various state capitals and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, the physical aspects, which involved a 3.2-kilometre race in 20 minutes, was aimed at testing and ensuring the physical fitness of applicants in accordance with the tradition of selection and recruitment in the military and the paramilitary services. In doing so, adequate arrangements were made to provide ambulances and first-aid services at all venues in the event of emergency, not- withstanding that applicants were required to provide certificates of physical fitness prior to the commencement of the exercise.
The unfortunate incident is being investigated with a view to ensuring that it does not occur in the future exercises again.
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