Some applicants have petitioned the Senate and the Federal Character Commission (FCC) to probe the recent recruitment exercise in the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF), alleging that the recruitment was done in secret.

In the petition signed by 11 of behalf of the concerned applicants, which dated January 21, 2012 and received by both the Senate and the FCC on January 22, 2013, the applicants claimed to have all the necessary qualifications to get the job. They alleged that the management of PEF recruited over 80 people without recourse to statutes regulating recruitment in the public service.

They alleged that PEF management refused to provide level playing field to all Nigerians in exercise.

They urged the Senate and the FCC to include PEF recruitment in their probe of the Immigration Service.

When contacted, PEF General Manager, Corporate Services, Mr Goody Nnadi, confirmed the recruitment but denied allegations of irregularities. He said even the FCC was fully involved in the process and the vacancies were properly advertised in the national dailies.