- 397 candidates flagged over medical, age, fitness and document issues; CGC warns review will not guarantee enlistment
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has opened a fresh window for aggrieved applicants in its recent recruitment exercise to submit complaints for review, following concerns from candidates who were shortlisted but subsequently disqualified from proceeding to the training college.
The Service said the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, had directed a case-by-case reassessment of genuine complaints after meeting with some of the affected applicants.
The move, according to the NCS, is aimed at ensuring that legitimate grievances receive appropriate attention without compromising the integrity, fairness and credibility of the recruitment process.
In a statement, the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, said inclusion on the final shortlist did not automatically guarantee enlistment, noting that all applicants must satisfy the prescribed recruitment requirements.
Maiwada explained that the recruitment process involved several stages of verification, including credential and document checks, physical fitness and endurance assessments, medical examinations, age verification and drug screening.
He disclosed that screening officers identified issues involving 397 applicants, including concerns relating to substance abuse, excluding cigarettes and alcohol, physical fitness, medical records, age and submitted documentation.
Some applicants, he added, were also disqualified over irregularities identified in their selection process.
The Service maintained that the screening measures were necessary to ensure that only candidates who met the required standards were considered for enlistment into an institution responsible for border security, revenue collection and public safety.
To address complaints from affected candidates, the NCS directed aggrieved applicants to submit their details and grievances through its designated email address, helpdesk@customs.gov.ng.
The Service urged applicants to provide accurate information and relevant details to facilitate the examination of their cases.
It said candidates seeking reconsideration under the new arrangement would be subjected to fresh screening, stressing that the review process would not amount to a waiver of established recruitment standards or an automatic guarantee of admission into the training college.
The Customs authorities also warned that applicants found to have engaged in criminal conduct, including certificate fraud and other offences, would be referred to the appropriate authorities for legal action and possible prosecution.
The NCS urged affected candidates and members of the public to remain calm and use the designated complaint channel rather than resorting to actions that could undermine the review process.
It reiterated that the exercise would be guided by established procedures and the need to maintain public confidence in the Service’s recruitment system.
Under Adeniyi’s leadership, the Service said it remained committed to a transparent, credible and accountable recruitment process, adding that while genuine complaints would be considered, it would not compromise the standards required of personnel entrusted with national security, border protection, revenue mobilisation and public safety.
