The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Federal Character Commission (FCC) have agreed to launch a Joint Task Force aimed at stopping job racketeering and restoring fairness in public sector recruitment. The move was confirmed during a high-level meeting in Abuja between ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), and Acting FCC Chairman, Dr. Kayode Oledele.
Dr. Aliyu explained that the decision follows a wave of complaints from young Nigerians who say they were denied job opportunities due to illegal recruitment practices and favoritism. He expressed concern over recurring cases where federal jobs are secretly given to individuals connected to high-ranking officials, often from the same state or region.
According to him, some government agencies have shockingly uneven employment patterns. He cited cases where one official allegedly allocated 94 job slots to his home state and where a single geopolitical zone received 189 appointments in two years—far exceeding allocations to other zones. In one example, a state reportedly made up 65.72% of an agency’s workforce, while some states had less than 1%.
He warned that such imbalances could seriously damage public trust in government institutions. Dr. Aliyu emphasized that the joint task force would help detect and prevent these recruitment violations, share intelligence, and monitor hiring processes nationwide.
He called for a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) within two weeks, adding, “This collaboration is proof that fairness and justice can thrive in our system if we take bold action.”
Dr. Oledele welcomed the partnership, stating that the FCC is fully committed to correcting the injustice in job distribution. He reminded agencies of their legal obligation to maintain fair representation and revealed that the FCC has already asked all federal bodies to submit their staff lists for a nationwide review.
He warned that any agency that fails to cooperate would face consequences. “Giving more jobs to one region at the expense of others is unjust. We must solve this problem now for the sake of future generations,” he said.
Both agencies have agreed that all future recruitment exercises will be closely monitored by the Joint Task Force. The formal signing of the MoU is expected soon to officially seal the partnership.
