Applicants for Customs job grow by minute -Customs

Abiola Seun   |    

The Nigeria Customs Service has confessed that it could not confirm the actual numbers of the applicants one week after the recruitment started as their numbers grow by the minute.

The Customs opened its portal on Wednesday, April 17, for the recruitment of 3,200 officers and men to the service of which 800 Nigerians would be recruited as support staff for Superintendent Cadre category while the balance of 2,400 would be employed under Customs Inspector and Customs Assistant cadre in the general duty categories.

But, speaking to journalists yesterday, the National Public Relations Officer of the service, Joseph Attah said the service has no actual numbers of Nigerians that so far applied for the recruitment.

According to him, the number grows every minute and the service is more concerned about responding to operational challenges faced by the applicants.

He said, “I don’t have answer to that, we are not in the business of start counting because the number is increasing by the minute but our concern is to respond to operational questions if there are challenges, if some people are talking about filling the form and the system is discriminating against certain institutions, we correct it and if people are observing operational challenges, we attend to them.

“But, once we are done, we announce the total number of Nigerians that have applied and the shortlisted candidates will be announced and published so that is the situation.

He continued, “We can’t be in a situation of speculation at this stage and as we are talking, the number is growing so what number am I giving? I should give figure when it is authentic, when it is three weeks, I should give what has come to us.”

When asked whether the service has any intention to extend the closing date of the recruitment exercise, Attah said there is no  intention.

He said since complaints have been addressed with a functional help desk to receive applicants complaints.

” no intention, the first day is when we got the complaints and the initial complaints were of institutions, difficulties which is normal. We have four help desk lines with four officers station 24/7 to receive their complaints and some are addressed instantly and as you are complaining, they are resolving and asking you to apply.

We are very much concern about attending to the public and with a functional help desk that attends to people and if you visit the site, pick any of the numbers and complain so this is how we are passing out continuous relevant information to the public directly,” he said on phone.

Recall that the Acting Deputy Comptroller-General, Human Resources, Customs, Umar Sanusi, said the recruitment had already received the backing of the Federal Executive Council, noting that those who meet the requirements irrespective of tribe, religion and state would be considered for employment.

He said, “Following the necessary approval from the Federal Executive Council, Nigeria Customs Service is now set to recruit officers and men to fill existing vacancies.

“Like all recruitment into positions in Federal Government agencies, applications for recruitment will be open to all eligible Nigerians who meet the requirements irrespective of their tribe, religion, state or any other consideration.

“In our bid to ensure equal and fair opportunity to all applicants, we are working every step of the recruitment process in compliance with the requirements of the Federal Character Commission.”

He assured that the service would conduct a recruitment exercise “that is credible, fair and transparent.”