BY: NASIRU MOHAMMED WAZIRI, KANO
Recent revelations about the allocation of recruitment slots in the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have sparked outrage among concerned Nigerians, particularly over the glaring imbalance that reportedly gave the South 72 percent of the positions, leaving the North with only 28 percent. Knowing that northern Nigeria has over half of the country’s population.
This uneven distribution, if true, raises deep questions about equity, fairness, and the unity of Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The Customs and Excise Management Act that established the NCS envisioned a truly national institution — one that reflects Nigeria’s diversity and operates in the interest of all citizens, regardless of region, religion, or ethnicity. The Service is also mandated to maintain a workforce of at least 30,000 officers to ensure effective border management, revenue collection, and anti-smuggling operations across the federation.
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However, with the recent upcoming, retirement of more than 800 officers, the NCS is reportedly operating with just about 18,000 personnel — far below its statutory strength. One would have expected the federal government to seize this opportunity to recruit fresh officers in a fair and balanced manner, drawing talent from every part of the country to boost efficiency and foster inclusiveness.
This is Where FCC comes in…
What is FCC?
The Federal Character Commission (FCC).
It was established in 1995 by the Federal Character Commission (Establishment, etc.) Act, Cap F7, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 — though the principle itself was first introduced earlier in the 1979 Constitution and later entrenched in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Origin: The idea of “federal character” was first conceived after Nigeria’s civil war to address fears of domination by certain regions or ethnic groups.
Legal Foundation:
Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution explicitly states that “the composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity.”
The FCC exists to make sure no region or ethnic group dominates federal employment or opportunities, ensuring that all Nigerians have equal access to positions and benefits of national institutions.
Apparently, instead what appears to be another episode of favoritism and regional bias has emerged — a move critics describe as part of the Tinubu administration’s deepening pattern of nepotism and sectional governance.
This approach not only undermines the morale of capable Nigerians who feel alienated by federal appointments but also erodes confidence in national institutions meant to serve all equally.
The Customs Service, being one of Nigeria’s most strategic agencies, should never be reduced to a political tool for rewarding loyalists or consolidating ethnic dominance. The implications of such discriminatory recruitment go beyond the agency itself — it feeds public resentment, widens national divisions, and weakens the fragile bonds of unity that hold the country together.
It is deeply concerning that instead of building bridges across Nigeria’s diverse regions, the Tinubu government appears to be reinforcing lines of exclusion.
Governance in a multi-ethnic nation like Nigeria demands balance, justice, and representation. Any administration that abandons these principles risks sowing seeds of distrust and disunity that could haunt the nation for generations.
As calls grow for transparency, the federal government must urgently readjust the just published breakdown of the recent Customs recruitment exercise and allocation to ensure that the recruitment processes comply strictly with the federal character principle enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.
True leadership should unite, not divide. The Tinubu administration must remember that power is transient — but the damage caused by injustice and favoritism can endure far longer than any political tenure.