The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Federal Character Commission (FCC) have announced plans to establish a joint task force to combat job racketeering and other recruitment-related abuses in the public sector.
By Chimezie Godfrey
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Federal Character Commission (FCC) have announced plans to establish a joint task force to combat job racketeering and other recruitment-related abuses in the public sector.
This was disclosed on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, to the FCC headquarters in Abuja.
Dr. Aliyu said the collaboration aims to restore integrity and fairness in the recruitment process across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in line with constitutional and statutory provisions.
He described the FCC as a critical institution for ensuring inclusivity and equitable representation, adding that Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution clearly mandates fairness in the distribution of public appointments.
“This partnership is not just about enforcement. It’s about protecting the rights and future of our young citizens, many of whom have fallen victim to illegal recruitment schemes,” he said.
The ICPC boss disclosed that the Commission is currently investigating several cases of job racketeering, one of which involves a federal agency accused of allocating 189 employment slots to a single geopolitical zone over two years.
He described the case as “a blatant abuse of the federal character principle” and warned that such practices erode public trust and deny qualified Nigerians equal opportunity.
To address these challenges, Dr. Aliyu proposed the formation of a joint technical task force that will monitor recruitment across MDAs, investigate violations of the federal character principle, prevent backdoor employment, and recommend reforms to ensure job equity.
“Our goal is to develop sustainable solutions to end the criminality that has become associated with public sector job distribution—ranging from scams to favouritism and abuse of office,” he said.
He added that a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is already in the works and should be concluded within two weeks, paving the way for the task force to begin operations.
Referencing Articles 5 and 36 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), Dr. Aliyu stressed the importance of inter-agency cooperation in tackling systemic corruption.
“This joint effort can become a national model where equity and integrity drive public sector recruitment and rebuild public confidence in governance,” he said.
In his remarks, the Acting Chairman of the FCC, Hon. Kayode Oladele, commended the ICPC for initiating the collaboration, describing it as a landmark move toward promoting transparency and equity.
“This is the first time both agencies are working together to critically assess fairness in the implementation of the federal character principle,” Oladele said.