SENATE UNCOVERS ABUJA JOB RACKET •APPLICANTS PAY N500,000 FOR MDAS’ EMPLOYMENT LETTER

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.
Source: Sun