Just in: Customs CG, officials’ risk 6 months jail over recruitment terms contrary to law
Barely 12 hours after the take off of online recruitment by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), confusion is set to engulf some terms and conditions attached by the agency for eligibility.
The aspect of the terms and conditions which clearly violates the law (Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act into law), is the recruitment condition which says applicant must ‘Not be suffering from any form of physical or mental disability’.
Business Hilights Intelligence Unit (BHIU) after studying the recruitment portal (vacancy.customs.gov.ng) and given terms and conditions, recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had on Tuesday, January 23, 2019, signed the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act into law.
Apart from the vulgar language of ‘Suffering’ used by NCS, instead of either ‘physically challenged’ or ‘living with disability’, analysts say the new Act criminalises all forms of discrimination against people living with disabilities and enforces their rights and privileges to education, healthcare, priority in accommodation, employment and emergencies.
The principal provision of the law which the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) and all that crafted and approved the terms and conditions for the ongoing recruitment have erred is the fact that “The Act prohibits all forms of discrimination on ground of disability and imposes fine of N1,000,000 for corporate bodies and N100,000 for individuals or a term of six months imprisonment for violation concurrently”.
Besides, the Act provides that “All public organisations both public and private, are to reserve at least 5% of employment opportunities for these persons. The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities is also established in Section 31 with Executive Secretary as the head.”
Form the terms and conditions already published on NCS portal for the ongoing recruitment, there is nothing to show that Customs has adhered to the provisions of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act as assented by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as there is nothing to show for the five percent reserved for people living with disability.
Business Hilights further observed two other worrisome terms and conditions for the job offer which include a clear stern warning that “You should ensure to submit documents that are required by the Cadre you are applying for (Eg. Don’t use Bachelors Degree for Inspectorate Cadre)” and the sealing of general age limit for all positions at not more than 30. This new line of arguement is based on the fact that majority of Nigerians currently unemployed are over 30 years of age.
Recall that the Nigerian Customs had Tuesday in Abuja, announced that it has created a recruitment portal in its efforts to recruit 3,200 officers to fortify its operations.
The Acting Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, Umar Sanusi, who addressed the media, disclosed that whereas 2,200 personnel will be recruited as general duty junior officers, 800 will be employed as either Customs Assistant or Superintendent.
Already, Business Hilights gathered Wednesday evening that less than 24 hours after the Nigeria Customs Service opened its portal for ongoing recruitment exercise, no fewer than 91,000 Nigerians have so far successfully submitted their applications for just 3,200 jobs.
Additional detail revealed that Nigerians in not less than 41 countries and home had so far applied for various cadres.
