The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has revealed that several applicants protesting their exclusion from the 2024/2025 recruitment list were disqualified for allegedly attempting to use backdoor channels to secure employment.
The controversy follows the recent physical screening and documentation exercise at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College in Gwagwalada, Abuja. Out of 573,680 initial applications, 3,852 candidates were shortlisted, but 397 applicants were screened out over issues relating to substance abuse, age limits, fake credentials, and medical unfitness.
The NCS National Spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, clarified that an invitation to the physical screening does not mean automatic employment. He advised applicants to remain calm, stressing that the Service thoroughly vetted all shortlisted individuals to ensure only qualified personnel are commissioned.
“The first stage of physical screening is a drug test. The second is an age verification check; if you are over 35 years old as a degree holder, you will be disqualified,” Maiwada stated.
He added that some candidates presented fake credentials, while others were found to have underlying health conditions such as Hepatitis B and high blood pressure.
The spokesman, while responding to applicants who resigned from previous jobs after making the shortlist, stated that the agency had issued prior warnings against such hasty decisions, advising them to liaise properly with their employers.
“We warned them not to terminate their current employment because being invited to this stage does not guarantee a job. Among those who are currently complaining, some attempted to use backdoor channels to gain entry, which is why they were removed. On the other hand, if we find that any candidate was removed erroneously, we will promptly reinstate them.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Character Commission (FCC), on Thursday, called for a suspension of the process, alleging a violation of federal character principles after claiming the commission was not invited to monitor the exercise.
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