​ABUJA — The Northern Youth Assembly has called on the Federal Character Commission to investigate the recently concluded recruitment drive by the Nigeria Customs Service, citing widespread complaints over regional imbalance and lack of transparency.
​The call comes amid growing dissatisfaction from applicants who allege the final list of successful candidates violates constitutional guidelines meant to ensure equitable representation across Nigeria’s states and geopolitical zones.
​In a statement released Thursday, the group urged both the recruitment oversight agency and Customs management to address the concerns publicly to restore trust in the exercise.
​”Public institutions must not only be fair but must also be seen to be fair,” said Dr. Abdulhafiz Garba, National Secretary of the assembly. “Recruitment into federal agencies should reflect the diversity of Nigeria and provide equal opportunities to qualified citizens, irrespective of their state, region, ethnicity, or religion.”
​The group requested that the Federal Character Commission conduct an independent audit of the recruitment records and apply corrective measures if any state or region was marginalized during the selection process.
​Additionally, the assembly called on the leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service to publish a state-by-state breakdown of the recruited candidates to clear up allegations of bias.
​While appealing to aggrieved applicants to remain calm and pursue their grievances through lawful channels, the group emphasized that public confidence in state institutions depends on strict adherence to the law.
​”Whether these concerns are ultimately validated or not, they deserve careful attention and response,”
Garba added. “Greater openness will help address public concerns and reinforce trust in our public institutions.”
​As of press time, the Nigeria Customs Service has not officially responded to the petition or released a breakdown of the successful candidates by state.
