In an unprecedented showdown between two federal agencies, the Federal Character Commission has dragged the Nigeria Customs Service and its Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, before the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing them of violating the Federal Character principle in the Service’s 2025/2026 recruitment exercise.
The Commission, in a statement issued on Friday by its spokesperson, Ademola Lawrence, said the criminal charge, filed on November 12, 2026, brought over four alleged violations of the Federal Character Commission (Establishment, etc.) Act, Cap. F7, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004.
The case, registered as Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/772/2026, centres on allegations that the Customs Service failed to provide recruitment records requested by the Commission, denied it the opportunity to monitor critical stages of the exercise and disregarded its directives on the recruitment process.
Specifically, the FCC alleged that the NCS failed to furnish it with relevant recruitment documents, including nominal rolls, despite a formal request dated March 25, 2026.
It also accused the Service of failing to submit relevant stages of the recruitment exercise for the Commission’s monitoring, thereby allegedly frustrating its statutory responsibility to ensure compliance with the Federal Character principle.
The Commission further alleged that the Customs Service disregarded its October 23, 2026 directive ordering the suspension of specified recruitment and training activities pending a review of the exercise.
Another allegation contained in the charge is that the Service failed to provide clear recruitment criteria and comprehensive eligibility guidelines required by the Commission to determine the distribution of available vacancies across the states of the federation and geopolitical zones.
The FCC maintained that its action was not an attempt to take over the recruitment responsibilities of the Customs Service but an effort to enforce compliance with the law governing equitable representation in public appointments.
The Commission, which stressed that it was not a recruitment agency, explained that its statutory responsibility was to monitor, assess and enforce compliance with the Federal Character principle in appointments and recruitment across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
According to the statement, access to recruitment records, clearly defined eligibility requirements and the opportunity to monitor recruitment exercises are legal obligations that public institutions must fulfil to enable the Commission to discharge its responsibilities.
It declared that no government institution was exempt from its oversight functions, insisting that the status of an agency or its leadership could not place it above the law.
The FCC said the institution of the proceedings reflected its determination, under the leadership of its Executive Chairman, Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, to move beyond policy declarations and ensure that the Federal Character principle was reflected in actual recruitment practices.
It added that equitable representation in the public service must be demonstrated through transparent procedures, verifiable recruitment criteria and records showing fair distribution of employment opportunities.
“The Commission will not abdicate its statutory responsibilities because of institutional pressure, administrative inconvenience or the status of any public office holder,” the statement said.
However, the Commission said it would respect due process, the independence of the judiciary and the constitutional rights of all parties, noting that the matter was now before the Federal High Court.
