The Nigeria Customs Service has opened a fresh review of complaints by 397 applicants who were disqualified during its recent recruitment screening.
This came following protests by candidates who said they were shortlisted but later barred from proceeding to the training college.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, ordered a case-by-case reassessment after meeting some of the aggrieved applicants, the service said on Monday.
However, the service warned that the review would not guarantee admission, adding that applicants found to have engaged in certificate fraud or other criminal conduct could face prosecution.
The development follows complaints by candidates who had earlier expressed uncertainty over their recruitment status after completing initial screening, accepting provisional offers on the recruitment portal and seeing their names on the published list, but failing to receive invitations for training.
The PUNCH had reported on October 8 that more than 500 applicants were awaiting training invitations, with some claiming they had resigned from their jobs and incurred expenses after believing their appointments had been secured.
Responding to the complaints at the time, the Customs spokesman, Abdullahi Maiwada, said the publication of candidates’ names did not amount to a final appointment, as applicants still had to satisfy the service’s physical, medical and other screening requirements.
In a fresh statement on Monday, Maiwada, a Deputy Comptroller of Customs, said Adeniyi had directed that legitimate complaints be examined individually.
He said the service recognised the concerns raised by applicants who were excluded after appearing on the recruitment shortlist.
He said the Comptroller-General had directed that genuine complaints be examined to ensure that affected candidates had an opportunity to present their cases.
“The Nigeria Customs Service acknowledges complaints from some applicants who participated in the recent recruitment exercise. These candidates were among those screened out and subsequently not allowed to proceed to the training college despite appearing on the recruitment shortlist.
“The Service recognises the concerns raised by affected applicants and assures the public that the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, after meeting with some of the aggrieved applicants, has called for a case-by-case reappraisal to ensure legitimate complaints are heard,” the statement said.
The service, however, clarified that appearing on the final shortlist did not automatically qualify an applicant for enlistment, stressing that candidates must pass all stages of the recruitment process.
According to the statement, the screening exercise covers verification of credentials and other documents, physical fitness and endurance tests, medical examinations, age verification and drug screening.
It said issues relating to substance abuse, excluding cigarettes and alcohol, physical fitness, medical records, age and submitted documents were identified among the 397 applicants.
Some candidates were also disqualified over irregularities identified in their selection process, the service added.
The Customs said the screening requirements were necessary to ensure that only candidates who met the prescribed standards were recruited into the agency.
To address complaints, the service directed affected applicants to submit their details and grievances through its designated email address, [email protected].
It urged candidates to provide accurate information to enable the service to examine their cases and determine whether the complaints were genuine.
The service said applicants who took advantage of the review window would undergo fresh screening, while investigations establishing criminal conduct, including certificate fraud, could lead to referral for legal action and prosecution.
“The review of complaints will not constitute a waiver of established standards or an automatic guarantee of admission into training,” it stated.
The service also appealed to applicants and members of the public to remain calm and use the designated channel to submit complaints, assuring them that the review would follow established procedures.
The latest move comes amid concerns over recruitment transparency and the expectations of 3,852 successful candidates from 573,680 applications for its 2024/2025 recruitment exercise, which began in December 2024.
The selected candidates comprised 1,275 in the Superintendent Cadre, 367 in the Inspectorate Cadre and 2,210 in the Customs Assistant Cadre.
The selection represented about 0.67 per cent of the total applicants, or roughly one successful candidate for every 148 applications.
Although the service subsequently published the list of successful candidates, it maintained that applicants had to complete further verification and screening before they could proceed to training and eventual commissioning.
The review is expected to provide an avenue for candidates to challenge their disqualification, while preserving the service’s authority to exclude applicants who fail to meet the required standards.