By Rabiu Sanusi
The Northern Youth Assembly (NYA) has called for an independent review of the recently concluded recruitment exercise conducted by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), citing widespread complaints from applicants and growing public concerns over the fairness and regional distribution of successful candidates.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Assembly’s National Secretary, Dr. Abdulhafiz Garba, the group said it had received numerous complaints from unsuccessful applicants and concerned Nigerians questioning whether the recruitment exercise complied with the constitutional principles of equity, transparency, and the Federal Character Principle.
The Assembly stressed that federal recruitment processes must reflect Nigeria’s diversity and provide equal opportunities to qualified citizens, regardless of their state of origin, region, ethnicity, or religion.
According to the statement, the Assembly’s position is neither politically motivated nor driven by regional sentiment but is aimed at safeguarding public confidence in national institutions.
“It is important that public institutions not only conduct recruitment fairly but are also seen by Nigerians to have done so in order to sustain trust, credibility, and national unity,” the statement said.
The NYA urged the Federal Character Commission (FCC) to carry out an independent assessment of the recruitment process to determine whether constitutional provisions on equitable representation were fully observed.
It added that if any imbalance is established, appropriate corrective measures should be taken to restore public confidence and ensure justice for all qualified applicants.
The Assembly also called on the leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service to improve transparency by publishing detailed information on the distribution of successful candidates across states and geopolitical zones.
It argued that greater openness would help address public concerns, eliminate speculation, and strengthen confidence in the integrity of future recruitment exercises.
Reaffirming its commitment to peace, justice, and national unity, the NYA appealed to affected applicants and members of the public to remain calm, law-abiding, and pursue any grievances through lawful and constitutional channels.
The Assembly emphasized that sustainable national development can only be achieved through dialogue, accountability, respect for the rule of law, and equal opportunities for every Nigerian to contribute meaningfully to the country’s progress.
