ABUJA, Nigeria – On Monday, August 28, 2023, applicants for the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp, NSCDC, and the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, took to the streets in protest outside the board office of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, CDCFIB, in Abuja.
The protesters demanded transparency, the immediate release of the list of successful applicants, and an investigation into the recruitment process.
The recruitment drive was announced by the CDCFIB last December for NSCDC, and in February for NIS, with each agency looking to fill 5,000 positions.
However, the applicants claim that the process lacked transparency and fairness.
Applicants were initially shortlisted for a Computer-Based Test, CBT, conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, on May 18, 2023.
One applicant, who spoke anonymously, revealed that the number of candidates who made it to the CBT stage was far below what they expected, raising suspicions of arbitrary disqualifications.
“Though some were screened out for age and other eligibility criteria before the CBT, the real problem began after the physical screenings, which took place from June 14 to June 28. The final list was expected to be out by July 11, but we’ve seen nothing,” said the applicant.
Another protester claimed that some individuals had already begun documentation for appointment, bypassing the required exams and physical training.
“We borrowed money for the exams and the physical training, risking our lives for a chance at these jobs, only to find that others who didn’t even participate in the tests are getting appointment letters,” she added.
“The system seems rife with nepotism and favoritism. Some people may have ‘godfathers,’ but what about the rest of us? We’re Nigerians too, and we’re entitled to a fair shot at these jobs,” she further stated.
The Deputy Secretary to the CDCFIB addressed the gathering, asking them to remain calm.
He assured the protesters that the board received their complaints and would investigate the matter.
This incident has reignited discussions around the lack of transparency in public sector recruitments in Nigeria, raising questions about the integrity of these processes and fueling public distrust in governmental institutions.
As the deadline for documentation nears on September 4th, the protesters are calling for the immediate intervention of President Bola Tinubu to ensure fairness and transparency in the recruitment process.
