House of Representatives approves report of its Commitees on Interior, Federal Character & Reformatory Institutions after citizens expressed concern that the recruitment process of the NSCDC and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) was cumbersome.

Some of the recommendations approved by
House of Representatives is on the recruitment exercise by NSCDC & Immigration Service include that the exercise should continue so there is no delay in the assumption of duty of officers that will form part of the solution to Nigeria’ security challenges.

Recall that the House of Representatives has resolved to investigate alleged marginalisation of some applicants in the recent recruitment exercise by the ministry of interior.

This followed a motion moved by Rep. Hafiz Ibrahim Kawu on the floor of the House on Wednesday which called for the cancellation of the recruitment exercise.

Presenting the motion, the lawmaker called on the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPB) to immediately suspend and/or cancel the Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) conducted on the 7th and 8th December 2020 for being discriminatory.

He said the Aptitude Tests was contrary to the enshrined principles of fairness and social justice.

He said the exercise should revert to the previous way which the agencies have been conducting recruitment exercises in the past.

Rep. Kawu said 190,000 candidates applied for different cadres advertised for Degree, HND, NCE, OND and SSCE holders in the ongoing recruitment exercise by the ministry.

He, however, disclosed that, out of the 190,000 candidates who applied, only 9,460 candidates were invited for the CBAT.

“The first phase of the recruitment exercise is a Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) where the Civil Defence, Federal Fire Service, Immigration and Nigeria Correctional Services Board (CDFIPB) partnered with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to conduct,” he said.

According to him, the Computer Based Aptitude Test for recruitment into the Nigeria Immigration Service was held on 7th December, 2020 while that of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) took place on 8th December, 2020 in 126 centers across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

“The computer based test only favoured candidates who can operate computers as the Civil Defence, Federal Fire Service, Immigration and Correctional Services Board (CDFIPB) did not consider citizens who may not be skilled in computer operation by providing an alternative for handwritten examinations in order to provide a level playing ground for all candidates who applied,” he said.

After debates and contributions on the motion, the House amended the prayer for the cancellation of the exercise and resolved to investigate the matter.

It mandated its Committees on Interior and Federal Character to monitor the recruitment exercise and ensure strict compliance and adherence to the principles of fairness and social justice.

However, the Committee On Interior, Federal Character and Reformatory Institution; Hon. Nasiru Sani Sango Daura, in coordination of the committee outcome states on 21st April, 2021 as thus;

” That the House do consider the Report of the Committee On Interior, Federal Character and Reformatory Institution on Call For Intervention in the on-going Recruitment Exercise into the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) ( HR. 99/12/2020) ( Laid 21/4/2021)

(I) That the introduction of Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) was to add value to the Civil Defense, Fire, Immigration and Prison Services Board’s recruitment process and also ensure transparency and fairness;

(ii) that the method (CBAT) employed by the Civil Defense, Fire, Immigration and Prison Services Board (CDFIPB) is faster, seamless, less cumbersome, devoid of almost 100% manipulation and above all in compliance with ICT since the whole World is embracing ICT and our youth and Nigeria by extension, should not be left out;

(iii) that the exercise should continue in earnest to ensure there is no delay in the assumption of duty of those Officers who will form part of the solution to the internal security challenges the country is faced with and also reduce the overstretched labour market.

Wednesday, 21 April, 2021

Time: 3.00pm