By Erewunmi Peace

In a strategic move to restore transparency and fairness in Nigeria’s recruitment processes, the Federal Character Commission (FCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have announced a joint initiative to tackle job racketeering in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) across the country.

During a high-level meeting held in Abuja, FCC Acting Chairman, Dr. Muheeba Farida Dankaka, represented by Dr. Kayode Oladele, and ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, agreed to form a joint technical task force. The team will oversee and audit recruitment activities in federal institutions, ensuring adherence to constitutional provisions on federal character and equity.

“We’ve received alarming reports — in some cases, over 180 recruitment slots were allocated to a single state while others were completely sidelined. This is unacceptable,” Dr. Oladele stated.

The joint task force will:

Conduct independent recruitment audits

Review and monitor employment exercises

Share intelligence reports

Develop frameworks for policy enforcement

Engage with other relevant agencies and whistleblowers

The collaboration comes amid rising public concerns over unfair recruitment practices, nepotism, and allegations of “slot buying” for federal jobs. The FCC and ICPC have pledged to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) within two weeks to formalize the alliance and operationalize their plan.

Dr. Aliyu emphasized that public trust in governance hinges on equal access to opportunities and strict compliance with the law.

“We must protect citizens from being sidelined because they lack connections. Every Nigerian deserves a fair shot,” he said.

The FCC also plans to strengthen its digital monitoring tools and automate more processes to detect irregularities in real time.

This collaboration is expected to restore confidence in federal recruitment and set a precedent for integrity-driven governance in Nigeria.