THE FEDERAL CHARACTER COMMISSION HAS CALLED ON THE NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE TO SUSPEND ITS ONGOING TRAINING EXERCISE FOR NEWLY RECRUITED OFFICERS, PENDING AN INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED IRREGULARITIES IN THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.
THE DIRECTIVE FOLLOWS REPORTS THAT HUNDREDS OF CANDIDATES WHOSE NAMES APPEARED ON THE PUBLISHED FINAL LIST, AND WHO HAD COMPLETED THE REQUIRED SCREENING, DOCUMENTATION AND MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS, WERE NOT INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TRAINING EXERCISE.
BRIEFING NEWSMEN AT THE COMMISSION’S HEADQUARTERS IN ABUJA, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION’S COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES, ABDULWASIU BAWA-ALLAH, DIRECTED THE NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE TO COOPERATE FULLY WITH THE COMMISSION’S COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES AND ANY INVESTIGATION LAWFULLY INSTITUTED BY THE COMMISSION.
BAWA-ALLAH EMPHASIZED THAT THE COMMISSION WOULD INVOKE ITS INVESTIGATIVE, COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT POWERS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.
HE ADDED THAT THE COMMISSION WOULD TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF FEDERAL CHARACTER.