Some senators yesterday revealed how a syndicate that specialized in
employment racketeering, fleeced Nigerians of amounts ranging between
N400,000 and N500,000 to secure jobs in Federal Ministries, Departments
and Agencies, (MDAs). The senators alleged during Wednesday’s plenary
that the syndicate, based in Gwagwalada, Karu and other places in the
Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is working for the heads of MDAs.
Speaking on a Motion on Employment irregularities in the MDAs,
sponsored by him, Senator Abubakar Bagudu referred to a statement
credited to the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service
(NIS), Mrs Rose Chinyere Uzoma, (currently on pre-retirement leave)
that: “4,000 employment slots approved by the Federal Government were
being sold to job applicants and some allocated to other personalities.
Due process involving advertisement for interested members of the public
to apply, have not been observed,” Bagudu disclosed.
“Employment letters were allegedly offered for sale between N400,000
and N500, 000 by the syndicate whose operation bases are in Gwagwalada,
Karu and other places in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and that
recruitment exercise favours some states of the federation which is a
total negation of the federal character principles.” Corroborating
Bagudu’s claim, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume described the mode of
operation of the racketeers. “A constituent came to me that he needed
N200, 000 to secure employment in one parastatal. When I refused to give
him the money, he said that was the only requirement needed and if I
didn’t give him the money, the job was as good as gone.
“After much pleading, I caved in and gave him the N200,000 only for
him to come back to me days later that the price was no longer N200,000
but N400,000. This person was a graduate of Geography who had stayed at
home for four years without a job.” In his remarks, Senate President
David Mark blamed the situation on desperation. “There’s real
unemployment in the land and there is desperation also.” He accused the
Civil Service Commission, an agency charged with the responsibility of
recruitment of failing in its duties. “The Civil Service Commission, an
agency charged with the responsibility of recruitment is most guilty
because they have to look at federal character, know the number of
vacancies available and recruit accordingly.
But there is desperation everywhere and this is a serious thing in
the land. We should do anything to minimize it by creating employment.
Mark therefore, recommended that those who had experiences or stories to
share should meet with relevant committees during public hearings and
perhaps, point out those that demanded money for employment from them.”
He also charged the Committee on Federal Character and
Inter-Governmental Affairs and Employment, Labour and Productivity to do
a thorough job in order to minimize the malaise, if not totally
eliminate the level of injustice going on in the country.
On Tuesday, the Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta-led Federal Character
Committee had summoned heads of some MDAs on the matter. The two
committees were expected to conduct a public hearing on the matter and
report back to the house in eight weeks.
SUN
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