The Nigeria Customs Service has ordered a fresh, case-by-case review of complaints from 397 applicants who were disqualified from its recent recruitment exercise after making the final shortlist.
The move follows protests by candidates who claimed they saw their names on the published list, accepted provisional offers on the recruitment portal, but were later denied entry into the training college.
In a statement on Monday, the Service said the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, intervened after meeting with some of the aggrieved applicants.
“The Nigeria Customs Service acknowledges complaints from some applicants who participated in the recent recruitment exercise. These candidates were among those screened out and subsequently not allowed to proceed to the training college despite appearing on the recruitment shortlist.
“The Service recognises the concerns raised by affected applicants and assures the public that the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, after meeting with some of the aggrieved applicants, has called for a case-by-case reappraisal to ensure legitimate complaints are heard,” the statement said.
The Service, however, stressed that being shortlisted was not an automatic qualification for enlistment, noting that every candidate must still pass all screening stages, including credentials verification, physical fitness, medical examination, age verification and drug screening.
It warned that the ongoing review would not automatically reinstate affected applicants, especially those found to have engaged in irregularities during the exercise.
The Customs Service directed affected applicants who believe they were unfairly disqualified to submit their details and complaints to its designated helpdesk at helpdesk@customs.gov.ng.
