I want to thank the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service for what seems to be the most merit-based recruitment exercise. The problem now is that much remains to be achieved from the process.
A brief summary of the recruitment is as follows: applications were received and closed in 2019 while shortlisting of candidates and exam were concluded in January 2020 and names of successful candidates were published and screened a year after in February 2021 and July 2021. As it stands, most of the persons screened don’t know their status as to whether they have passed the screening stage or not.
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Speculations have been flying around from an alleged power tussle between the Minister of Finance and the CGC as the reason for the delay. Similarly, the lack of logistics for training and the allegation that NCS is using the recruitment as a bait to get its budget passed by the National Assembly is also being speculated as a reason for the delay.
Whatever is the reason for this delay, I believe the poor applicants deserve better. This delay is likely to affect the mental health of some of the applicants. Many applicants have hinged their last hope on the recruitment considering that they have come this far in the process.
I want to use this space to call the attention of the Nigeria Customs Service Board, Management and the Minister of Finance and Col. Hameed Ali to address the situation. They should tell the candidates the outcome of the exercise so that they can have peace of mind.
Abdullahi Sani Kanoma can be reached via [email protected]
