A group, Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN) has expressed concern over allegations of irregularities and financial inducement in the promotion and recruitment process within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Civil Service Commission.
Against this background, the group called for a thorough, transparent and independent investigation to protect the integrity of the FCT public service.
The National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Michael Briggs in a statement issued Sunday said that appropriate authorities should 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.
He said their 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.
Briggs, therefore, 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.
Briggs emphasised 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.
Briggs stressed that stakeholders and some medical personnel working within the FCT administration have questioned 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, the group pointed out that no formal interview or transparent selection exercise has been conducted to determine successful candidates.
The group noted that there were allegations that some individuals may have already been employed and commenced duties, despite the absence of a publicly known interview process.
This, it said, 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.
The group called 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.
It added: “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.
“Until the Commission provides satisfactory clarification, legitimate questions will continue to persist over the transparency and credibility of the recruitment exercise.”