Malachy Uzendu
25 August 2008
Lagos — In the wake of the Federal Government's directive for the recruitment of at least 3,000 Nigerians into the civil service, the Federal Character Commission (FCC), has revealed that most of the vacancies are already filled as ministries and parastatals conducted clandestine and lopsided recruitments.
The FCC which reiterated its resolve to ensure that such act in the public service was eliminated as part of efforts to give Nigerians the benefit of job placements, however warned the chief executive officers (CEOs) of such public institutions who encourage the illegal acts to desist from actions that run contrary to statutory provisions or face official sanctions.
Chairman of the FCC, Professor Shuaibu Oba Abdulraheem, who revealed to an online publication that his agency had received several petitions bordering on secret recruitments and non-transparent procedures in job placements in the public service, disclosed that finance and revenue generating agencies are the major culprits.
Some of the agencies he mentioned include the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC),, Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria Broadcasting Commission amongst others.
Prof. Abdulraheem lamented that one of the organizations recently employed more than 400 staff without recourse to advertisement in any media while other agencies used unrecognized and unpopular media to place such vacancies.
He disclosed that while those recruited staff from the back-door-policy may not be blamed or sanctioned for the action of the agencies, the Federal FCC would address the imbalance through other process to ensure that the malpractice is not repeated in future, adding that "the lopsidedness in the recruitment exercise is also prevalent in some states and local government services."
Speaking on the effect of privatized public institution on the recruitment of Nigerians into such firms, he said the rampant privatization of public institutions have distorted some sections of the Constitution which may require some amendments.
He said: "to address the arbitrariness in recruitments, Professor said that his Commission may soon introduce a Vacancies Journal where vacancies in public institutions would be published and circulated widely to all the states and local government councils in the federation. The recruiting agency would still be required to place vacancy in at least two national newspapers.
"Presently the commission is compiling the current list of Chief Executives of Federal parastatals, companies, agencies and institutions to ascertain their states of origin, dates of present appointment and place of assignment to update its records.
"The Federal Character commission is empowered by the Constitution the Federation of Nigeria to work out an equitable formula, subject to the approval of the National "Assembly, for distribution of all cadres of posts in the Public Service of the Federation and of the States, Armed Forces of the Federation, the Nigeria Police Force and other government Security Agencies, government owned companies/parastatals of the states.
"It is further mandated to promote, monitor and enforce compliance with principles of proportional sharing of all bureaucratic, economic, media and political posts at all levels of government" the report added.
Meanwhile , the FCC has issued a new guideline for recruitment into the public service, which makes it compulsory for all government agencies to abide by stipulated guidelines before any recruitment is made.
Under the new guideline issued in a circular with Reference Number FCC/CHM/S.18/1, which would take effect from September 1, all ministries, parastatals and security agencies are to henceforth ensure that the spread of all vacancies to be filled should be predetermined in relation to the current levels of the (Federal Character) representation by states or zones.
Where it becomes necessary to ask prospective applicants to apply on-line, the cost of the scratch cards to be procured by such applicants shall not exceed N500.00, since they are ab initio, considered as non-salary earners and in order to make such available to all cadre of persons.
In the circular quoted by the Economic Confidential, the Commission spelt out new conditions to be met by all ministries departments and agencies (MDAs) before undertaking any recruitment exercise.
It was gathered that the decision was reached after a joint meeting of the MDA and the FCC.
The agencies, under the new guidelines are required to provide comprehensive job description required for each vacant position including academic qualifications and cognate experience.
It was learnt that all such declared vacancies should be advertised in at least two newspapers circulating nationally, giving prospective candidates, a minimum of six weeks within which to apply with adequate consideration to gender representation and the physically challenged.
Economic confidential also quoted the circular as indicating that where such candidates are required to apply online, hard copies of such applications shall nevertheless be accepted.
On consultants who usually hide the names of recruiting agencies, the circular stated that henceforth "the consultant shall disclose, in the advertisement, the ministry, department or agency on whose behalf they are acting.
It also warned that in the event of candidates being required to buy scratch cards, the cost shall not be more than N500 (five Hundred Naira) only.
At the close of such advertisement, a shortlist of qualified candidates shall be compiled for interview or any mode of selection on State by State Basis and the compilation of results shall be on State by State basis in order to enable the best candidates from each state and the FCT to be employed.
One of the new innovations in the guideline is that a Certificate of Compliance, (CoC) with the FCC Principles, shall be issued as final authorization for the release of letters of appointment to candidates by the recruiting ministries, departments and agencies (MDA) of government.
The list of successful candidates shall be published in at least two newspapers, circulating nationally by the MDA.
There are also punishments and sanctions against defaulting agencies and individuals who refuse to observe the new guideline as from September 1, 2008 when it takes full effect.
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