Group Raises Alam Over Alleged Cash-for-Promotion, Questionable Recruitment In FCT Civil Service

Concern has been expressed over allegations of irregularities in the promotion and recruitment process within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Civil Service Commission, with calls for a thorough, transparent and independent investigation to protect the integrity of the FCT public service.

Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN) said in a press statement issued in Abuja by its National Coordinator, Comrade Michael Briggs that the concerns include allegations of a “cash-for-promotion” culture and questions surrounding the engagement of three retired directors from the Federal Civil Service Commission Office.

Before now, stakeholders have urged the appropriate authorities to examine whether all recruitment and engagement procedures complied with extant public service rules and whether the appointments have had any adverse impact on the efficiency and morale of the service.

TAN stressed that the allegations remain unproven and should be investigated impartially, with due process afforded to all individuals involved.

They called on the FCT Administration and other relevant oversight bodies to institute a transparent inquiry, publish its findings, and take appropriate action where any wrongdoing is established.

The group also urged the Commission to strengthen safeguards that promote merit, transparency, accountability and equal opportunity in staff promotion and personnel management.

The statement reaffirmed that a credible, professional and corruption-free civil service is essential to efficient public service delivery and the successful implementation of government policies for the benefit of residents of the Federal Capital Territory.

Also, troubling is some serious questions raised by stakeholders, and some medical personnel working within the Federal Capital Territory Administration over the alleged recruitment process recently undertaken by the FCT Civil Service Commission

According to the group, the Commission publicly advertised vacancies and invited qualified Nigerians to apply.

However, they said that, to the best of their knowledge, no formal interview or transparent selection exercise has been conducted to determine successful candidates.

Of particular concern is the allegation that some individuals may have already been employed and commenced duties, despite the absence of a publicly known interview process. This has raised questions about how the successful candidates were selected and whether the recruitment exercise was conducted in accordance with established procedures.

The development is said to be particularly troubling to thousands of medical personnel who have been serving the FCT Administration on contract and who expected the recruitment exercise to provide them with a fair opportunity for regularisation or permanent appointment based on merit and experience.

Some of the affected contract staff have reportedly expressed concern after noticing unfamiliar faces allegedly reporting for duty, prompting questions about whether existing contract workers were duly considered in the recruitment process.

TAN therefore call on the FCT Civil Service Commission to urgently clarify the situation and provide the public with details of the recruitment process, including the number of vacancies advertised, the criteria for selection, the interview arrangements, and whether appointment letters have already been issued to successful applicants.

The civil society group also appealed to the relevant authorities within the FCT Administration to ensure that the recruitment process is transparent, merit-based, and consistent with the principles of fairness and equal opportunity.

“The concerns being raised should not be dismissed as mere complaints from contract workers.

“Recruitment into the public service carries significant implications for public confidence, institutional integrity, and the morale of existing workers,” the statement added.

Briggs, therefore, urge the Commission to address these allegations openly and transparently, while ensuring that qualified medical personnel who have rendered years of service to the FCT are not unfairly excluded from an opportunity they reasonably expected to compete for.

“Until the Commission provides satisfactory clarification, legitimate questions will continue to persist over the transparency and credibility of the recruitment exercise,” the statement stressed. END.