The applicants under the umbrella of National Coalition of Aggrieved/Concerned NSCDC/NIS Ongoing Recruitment Applicants, alleged that the majority of them from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, who took part in the Computer-Based Test (CBT) and physical screening and qualified for the jobs were never shortlisted for documentation.
Applicants for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment conducted by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) from across the country, have petitioned the Minister of Interior, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, over alleged manipulation of the recruitment process.
The applicants under the umbrella of National Coalition of Aggrieved/Concerned NSCDC/NIS Ongoing Recruitment Applicants, alleged that the majority of them from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, who took part in the Computer-Based Test (CBT) and physical screening and qualified for the jobs were never shortlisted for documentation.
According to the aggrieved applicants, rather than release the list of the successful applicants for documentation, they found out that the CDCFIB had sold their slots to people who, according to them, never took the test or participated in the physical screening process of the recruitment. The aggrieved applicants alleged that the list had been thrashed.
SaharaReporters on Monday reported that the applicants staged a protest at the board office in Abuja, over the recruitment process and demanded the immediate release of the list of successful applicants and an investigation into the recruitment process.
The applicants said that based on the recruitment advertisement published by the CDCFIB board in December 2022, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) were approved to recruit a total number of 10,000 officers in both junior and senior cadres of their respective outfits.
The letter addressed to the minister reads, “A lot of Nigerians applied accordingly with an expectation that due process that is free and fair would be followed and that only qualified applicants would be absorbed at the end of the recruitment exercise.
“After the online applications, applicants waited for five months before some deemed qualified for the next stage were invited for a CBT test after meeting the requirement for that stage.
“Sir, even on short notice, invited applicants adjusted their schedules showing their eagerness to serve this country and risked their lives by travelling far distances as most test centres were spread across a few selected areas in the six geo-political zones of the country.
“On June 11, 2023 candidates were also invited to participate in a physical screening and psychometric evaluation exercise which was believed to be the final stage before the documentation and issuance of appointment letters by the agencies.
“Again, even with the hardship faced and increase in the prices of fuel and transport fares, most applicants had to travel to far states for their zonal screening exercise where an average of 80 applicants were screened daily over a period of 10 days at different zonal headquarters in Nigeria.
“A large percentage of these applicants invited were successfully screened and met the basic requirements stated in the job description.
“Sir, while candidates expected the release of the final list for the final documentation and collection of appointment letters, the list was not released on the due and prescribed date for release, and candidates received the shock of their lives when the NIS list was released on Thursday, August 10, 2023 and that of the NSCDC was released on Saturday night, August 12, 2023.
“About 90% of those who participated in either the CBT or the physical screening of the geo-political zones were left out of the list while the procedure for the selecting of the remaining 10% was a hoax to cover up the abominable act.
“Sir, the names on the list were completely tempered with and changed with that of those who never attended the CBT or Zonal Screening exercise. This raises concern about the integrity of the recruitment process which is believed to be about fairness, merit and equal opportunity.
“Sir, applicants from each state have social platforms where they communicate and share information and cannot believe that only about 10% of the applicants were shortlisted from each state of the geo-political zones. This is an injustice done to qualified, bonafide and the most eligible candidates.
“Sir, it was later found that the new and illegal list is made up of the "WHO KNOW WHO" candidates that did not pass through the due process of the recruitment, some may not have the required qualification or even the recruitment application ID. These aliens did not attend or participate in both the CBT and the geo-political zones screening.
“The aggrieved applicants therefore called on the minister for intervention and investigation into the matter and urged him to ensure that the process is conducted in a transparent and unbiased manner, and that “this injustice and corruption does not stand, and that eligible and qualified candidates that are deserving get the job.”
Addressing the aggrieved applicants during their protest, the Deputy Secretary to the CDCFIB appealed to them to be calm, saying the board had received their complaints and would look into the issues.