Job for Sale: ICPC Collaborates FCC

Nigeria’s Anti-Corruption Body ICPC Probes Federal Agency For Allocating 189 Jobs To Single Zone In 2 Years

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has revealed an ongoing investigation into a disturbing case of job racketeering in a federal agency that allegedly allocated 189 employment slots to a single geopolitical zone over two years.

This revelation came to light during a courtesy visit by the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, to the headquarters of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) in Abuja, where both agencies announced a strategic partnership to combat recruitment fraud and enforce equity in government job placements.

Aliyu described the action by the unnamed agency as “a blatant abuse of the federal character framework” and a gross violation of Nigeria’s constitutional commitment to fairness and inclusion in public service appointments.

The ICPC Chairman revealed that the Commission is currently probing multiple cases of job racketeering.

He lamented the disturbing trend where recruitment processes have been manipulated for personal gain, particularly to the detriment of Nigerian youths.

“This not only violates due process and equity but also crushes hope and trust in our institutions,” he said.

According to the ICPC Chairman, one such case under investigation involved a federal agency that reportedly allocated 189 employment slots to a single zone over two years, an act he described as a threat to equitable governance.

He explained that the development not only violates due process and equity but also crushes hope and trust in our institutions, stating that the ICPC is currently investigating several similar cases across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The joint move by the ICPC and FCC aims to establish a special task force to monitor recruitment exercises, detect backdoor employments, investigate lopsided appointments, and advise on reforms to sanitise Nigeria’s battered public recruitment system.

“This partnership is about more than just enforcement; it is about protecting the rights and future of our young citizens, many of whom are victims of illegal recruitment schemes,” Aliyu said.

While Nigeria's civil service has long been plagued by allegations of nepotism, bribery, and “slot sharing,” the ICPC’s latest disclosure paints an even grimmer picture of institutional rot.

“The goal is to fashion out sustainable solutions to the criminality associated with public sector job distribution, such as scams, favouritism, and abuse of office,” the ICPC Chairman said.

The agency’s proposed task force, to be co-managed with the FCC, will also be backed by a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which is expected to be finalised within two weeks.

Referencing global anti-corruption frameworks such as the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), Aliyu stressed the need for synergy between government agencies, noting that this collaboration could become a model for coordinated anti-graft enforcement in Nigeria.

“This joint effort can serve as a national model where equity and integrity work hand-in-hand to rebuild public confidence in governance,” he added.

In his response, Acting Chairman of the FCC, Hon. Kayode Oladele, welcomed the move, calling it a “pioneering step toward strengthening operational integrity in public recruitment.”

“This is the first time our two agencies are coming together to critically examine the fairness and transparency of the federal character framework,” Oladele said.

He reiterated the Commission’s readiness to work closely with the ICPC to investigate breaches and ensure that federal appointments reflect the country’s diversity and constitutional mandates.

“We are pleased with this initiative and fully committed to supporting it to ensure justice, equity, and national unity are truly upheld,” he added.