The Kano State House of Assembly has taken a firm stance against the recently concluded Nigeria Customs Service recruitment exercise, describing it as fundamentally flawed and demanding its immediate cancellation.
Northern Marginalization Allegations
During a heated plenary session on Tuesday, lawmakers expressed deep concern over what they termed a "clear marginalization" of northern candidates in the recruitment process. The motion, raised by Speaker Alhaji Jibril Ismail Falgore, highlighted significant irregularities that allegedly disadvantaged qualified applicants from northern states.
Constitutional Violations Cited
The Assembly pointed to apparent violations of the federal character principle enshrined in Nigeria's constitution. Lawmakers argued that the recruitment exercise failed to reflect the country's diversity and disproportionately favored candidates from certain regions while excluding qualified northern applicants.
Call for Federal Intervention
The House has urgently called upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene directly and order the complete cancellation of the controversial exercise. Additionally, they've demanded a comprehensive investigation into the recruitment process to identify and address the alleged irregularities.
Broader Implications
This development represents a significant challenge to federal recruitment practices and raises important questions about equity in public service employment. The Kano Assembly's strong position underscores growing concerns about regional representation in federal institutions and could set a precedent for similar interventions from other state assemblies.
The controversy comes at a time when unemployment remains a critical issue across Nigeria, particularly in northern states, making fair recruitment processes even more crucial for maintaining public trust in government institutions.
