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.
Source: Business Hilights
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