Federal Civil Service: Senate Concerned About Methods of Recruitment

The Nigerian Senate has expressed concern about the methods employed by the Federal Civil Service Commission in the recruitment and deployment of officers into the federal civil service.

This was expressed via a motion titled “Urgent need to ensure Federal Character Principle, curb lopsidedness and Emerging Infractions in the recruitment and deployment of officers by the Federal Civil Service Commission and Related Agencies”, sponsored by Senator Zak Titus Tartenger, who represents Benue West senatorial district.

Senator Tartenger noted that the Federal Civil Service Commission was established with the responsibility of recruitment and deployment of officers with requisite qualifications into the federal civil service through advertisement of vacancies, but the commission was allegedly using illegal methods of employment.

“The counter-productive malady to favour certain groups and not consistent with the commission’s vision seems to have recently crept into the commission, as allegations of illegal recruitment or employment into the service are being reported,” he said.

“This debilitating syndrome has so permeated the Ministries, Departments and Agencies that virtually no ministry seems to be insulated from this ugly trend.

“The introduction of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) meant to curtail and ultimately eliminate illegalities in the civil/public service, in terms of human resource and payroll and human factor in its application, seems to be jeopardizing this noble objective of the government.

“In December 2021, a particular ministry of the federal government alone weeded out a total of 1,020 of such illegally employed staff with over 300 employment letters further sent to be authenticated by the Federal Civil Service Commission,” Senator Tartenger submitted. 

Contributing to the motion, all the senators that spoke were convinced that if urgent action is not taken to ensure Federal Character Principle and curb the lopsidedness, it would weaken the cohesion of the civil service with its attendant damage to governance and service delivery.

The Senate, therefore, mandated its Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters to carry out a holistic investigation into the matter and come up with appropriate recommendations to the Senate.