Applicants protesting exclusion from recruitment exercise pass through unofficial channels – Custom

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) reacting to applicants protesting exclusion from its 2024/2025 recruitment exercise said protesters attempted to pass through unofficial channels.

Then Nigeria Customs Service has been under scathing criticism over alleged irregularities that overwhelms the selection process.

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It however said, applicants erroneously disqualified would be reinstated if proper scrutiny discovered any.

Controversy started when names of some applicants appeared as successful candidates were later disqualified and dropped.

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The NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed this in an interview with BBC Hausa.

Maiwada said inclusion on the list did not translate to automatic employment, candidates were required to go through scrutiny process before they proceed to training.

According to him, some applicants were disqualified after running short of prescribed requirements.

“Among those who are currently complaining, some attempted to use backdoor channels to gain entry, which is why they were removed,” the spokesman said.

He, however, assured applicants who believed they had been unjustly excluded that their complaints would be investigated.

“If we find that any candidate was removed erroneously, we will promptly reinstate them,” he said.

The controversy followed allegations that some applicants whose names appeared on the list were screened out and replaced by individuals who did not participate in the recruitment exercise.

In a statement, the NCS acknowledged receiving complaints from applicants who participated in the exercise but were subsequently excluded.

The service said 397 applicants were disqualified during physical screening over issues relating to substance abuse, age, physical fitness and documentation.

Maiwada said some candidates were found to have medical conditions, including Hepatitis B and high blood pressure, while others allegedly submitted fake credentials or exceeded the stipulated age limit.

He explained that the list published after the examination stages was not the final guarantee of employment.

Further checks, he noted, were necessary to establish candidates’ eligibility.

“It is important to understand that being invited for screening does not mean you have automatically secured the job,” he said.

According to him, the screening process included drug tests, age verification and medical assessments.

He said candidates who failed to satisfy the requirements would be disqualified.

He added that applicants who believed their exclusion was unjustified could submit formal complaints for investigation.

The spokesperson also addressed reports that some candidates had resigned from their previous jobs after finding their names on the successful candidates’ list, only to be dropped during the subsequent screening.

Maiwada said the service had warned applicants against leaving their existing employment before completing the recruitment process.

“We warned them not to terminate their current employment because being invited to this stage does not guarantee a job,” he said.

He added that applicants who intended to leave their jobs were advised to liaise with their employers and comply with the required notice arrangements.

Maiwada further explained that candidates who passed the screening would still have to satisfy the requirements of the training programme before being commissioned as customs officers.

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