‘All vacancies must be advertised’: FCC warns MDAs against secret recruitment

The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has reiterated its recruitment guidelines for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), warning that violations will no longer be tolerated.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, the Acting Executive Chairman of the FCC, Kayode Oladele, said the commission’s constitutional mandate is to guarantee fairness, equity, and inclusivity in public service appointments.

He stressed that the rules are not mere formalities but essential safeguards for Nigeria’s unity and stability.

“The 1999 Constitution and the FCC Act place on the Commission the duty to promote, monitor, and enforce compliance with the principles of fairness in appointments. In line with this, no MDA is permitted to issue letters of appointment without first obtaining the Commission’s Certificate of Compliance,” Oladele stated.

The FCC boss reminded MDAs that “Vacancies must be identified cadre by cadre and spread equitably after a joint meeting with FCC; all vacancies must be advertised in at least two national newspapers, with six weeks minimum for applications; online and hard-copy submissions are both accepted; no application or processing fees shall be charged; and only qualified candidates should be shortlisted, on a State-by-State basis, with deliberate inclusion of women and persons with disabilities.”

Oladele added that while public institutions such as ASCON, CMD, and PSIN may be engaged to conduct aptitude tests, recruitment exercises must not be outsourced to private consulting firms.

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Tying the guidelines to the administration’s vision, Oladele stated that the FCC’s enforcement role is a direct contribution to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda is clear about fairness, equity, and inclusivity in governance. By ensuring equal opportunities in the federal service, we are making every Nigerian feel a sense of belonging, which is critical to our national unity,” he said.

He further warned against abuses of the system, stressing that the Federal Character principle cannot be used to smuggle in unqualified candidates.

“The best and most competent from each state must be considered. This is how fairness and merit can coexist under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Oladele said.

To strengthen transparency, the FCC boss directed that the final list of successful candidates must be published in at least two national dailies, while MDAs are required to forward their updated staff nominal rolls to the Commission within three months of issuing appointment letters.

He also warned against indiscriminate use of casual or contract staff, warning that such practices distort the staff distribution pattern and must only be undertaken sparingly and with FCC approval.

Oladele added: “These measures are about more than recruitment. They are about stability and justice.

“When fairness guides our appointments, when no part of the country feels excluded, we are reducing grievances and strengthening cohesion. That is the true spirit of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

The Star