News

Job Racketeering in Nigerian Public Institutions a.k.a. Slot Buying

Published

1 year ago

July 23, 2024

When it is time to fill up the vacancies, we see announcements on the federal agency websites. News websites and blogs equally pick up the stories. Forums such as Nairaland will see multiple threads concerning the ‘latest recruitment openings’ into so, so, and so Nigeria Commission. While many rejoice, some are out to condemn the recruitment system for being incompetent, biased, and susceptible to influence by the highest bidder. Will racketeering ever allow the most
qualified candidates to secure the job? What Nigerians commonly call slot buying is the order of the day during recruitment into the civil service. Even a legit slot is hard to come by. When you find one, depending on the available position, a willing applicant is looking at spending at least
300,000 and up to 2 million naira.

Work and School,, a Nigerian-based website that specializes in picking up recruitment announcements found that job racketeering is the virus discouraging the right talents from
applying for a spot in public service. If we do not have skilled minds and hands in public offices, how can we experience the ‘change’ different government administrations have been preaching years after the country’s independence? Agreed, a qualified candidate for the job is not the sole solution, but it could go a long way in national service.

Nigeria and Its Middleman Mentality

Nigerians love to take advantage. It also seems that from the top to the lowest civil servants, many want a cut. That is why, if an applicant manages to find a slot vendor, they are typically
middlemen. The honest ones will say, “I know someone who knows someone” (referring to those in positions who can fix in names where the beholders are ready to commit something ‘cash’ to be shortlisted). Someone will want the applicant to believe that they are in control of the
shortlisting of names, and can guarantee their bidder’s name.

This takes us to the term ‘arbitrage’, which Work and School found to be the new business of recruitment in Nigeria. This is also the reason for expensive slots, especially concerning federal jobs. Here, Servant B buys multiple slots beforehand from Servant A, and then retails them for
three to five times the amount—that is the arbitrage of recruitment into Nigerian federal agencies with good returns.

As for the cost of slots, it is typically at least 300,000 naira and as much as 2 million naira, and sometimes more. Depending on the vendor, the money may be deducted from the applicant’s monthly salary until the payment is complete.

As for the payment method, it is usually in cash. This is to eliminate any form of transaction history linking the slot vendor to the candidate. It’s a measure against ‘just in case’ they get caught.

Job Seekers at the Mercy of Employment Scammers

While looking for a federal job, desperation might easily set in. This means that applicants are more likely to get scammed. Applicants who are new to the system eventually learn that Nigeria’s recruitment is pay to play, and are tempted to jump on any opportunity that is captioned “Pay now and secure a slot”. Knowing it is probably the only way to get the job, they helplessly make transfers to faceless people on social media, forums, fake websites advertising
slots, etc. You would not blame them. As a Nairalander, CJStarz wrote on this thread www.nairaland.com/7895196/seriously-need-federal-government-job, “When you are desperate
for something, you are prone to falling into [the] wrong hands.”

What is the Federal Government Doing About It and What is the Way Forward?

Well, yes, the Nigerian government is doing something, at least on paper. Even that is without sabotage. For example, the Premium Times had reported how Nigerian lawmakers probing job racketeering were extorting money from agencies.

A few have been caught in the act. In 2020, a serving Deputy Director of the Federal Character Commission, FCC, Alh. Ahmad Balarabe was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment by the State
High Court 3 sitting in Gusau, Zamfara State for defrauding unsuspecting job seekers of N7 million. In 2023, the House of Representatives ordered the arrest of a former desk officer in
charge of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) at the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Haruna Kolo, over job racketeering allegations.

Just more good news: the Senate plans to enact a law prescribing stiffer sanctions to stem job racketeering and disregard for the federal character principles in employment. This was
reported by the chairman, the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-governmental Affairs, Allwell Onyesoh, at a meeting with the management of the Federal Character
Commission in Abuja. He further added that “… you must put some sanctions if you want things
to work; we are considering stiffer penalties; there must be a consequence for everything.”

Slot Buying Is Not All the Problem But…

If applicants are not getting recruited into civil service, it’s not a problem restricted to job racketeering alone. In Nigeria, a federal agency may be looking for just 5,000 applicants, only to see 1.5 million applicants. For example, during the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps,
NSCDC, recruitment in 2022. about 1.5 million applications were registered on the website.

“Those who met the requirements on age and height were about 750,000 and were asked to upload their certificates. A total of 217,000 applicants uploaded their certificates of which 113,000 were shortlisted to write the CBT but only 53,116 eventually sat for the test. It is from these that 5,000 were picked among the successful ones.” This was declared by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, at the Policy Dialogue on Entrenching Transparency in Public Service Recruitment in Nigeria, organised by the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria, an institution of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Relates Offences Commission
(ICPC) in Abuja.

Poor qualifications submitted by the applicants are another reason many applicants fail to get the job. Sometimes, this issue is coupled with candidates’ failure to follow simple instructions.

Internal recruitments are also a cause, whereby no public announcements are made regarding vacant positions. This is often the case with the CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria). The CBN admits that some recruitments are internally done while some are publicly announced inviting qualified
candidates to apply.

We will not even go into ancestral influence. Some agencies are known family businesses, whereby vacant positions are shared amongst the kins of existing officers. Such cases are different from slot buying, except the officers might show appreciation in cash or kind.

Considering these unfair realities, it pays better to learn a good skill and be your own boss at the moment instead of focusing your dreams on a potentially slot-based government job. We can only hope for the government to get rid of the scrupulous elements whose acts of profit before service continue to sideline the best talents, encourage incompetent civil service, and consequently torment the growth of Nigeria.

News

Senate Confirms Ex-CDS Musa As Defence Minister After Five-hour Screening

Published

5 hours ago

December 3, 2025

Editor

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of a former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence following a rigorous five-hour screening by lawmakers.

During the confirmation hearing, Musa faced tough questions on recent security lapses, including the withdrawal of troops from Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, shortly before the abduction of schoolgirls on November 17.

The incident sparked national outrage.

Musa assured the Senate that he would immediately set up a full-scale investigation into the troop withdrawal once he assumes office.

He also vowed to probe the recent killing of a brigade commander in Borno State, Brigadier General Musa Uba, and other attacks targeting military officers.

He said, “It is very unfortunate and really painful. I want to assure Nigerians that we will not stand by and have terrorists have the capacity to do such.

“We are going to go after them fully, working together with all the security agencies and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (of government). We are going to investigate fully.

“The Armed Forces have a way, and then from the defence, we are going to make sure that we continue with the oversight over their activities.”

The nominee highlighted gaps within the armed forces and called for enhanced funding, strengthened community engagement, and coordinated inter-agency operations.

He also emphasised the need to protect schools through the Safe Schools Initiative and a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and banditry.

The screening session saw moments of tension in the chamber.

Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) suggested Musa be allowed to “take a bow and go,” prompting protests from lawmakers, including Senator Garba Maidoki (PDP, Kebbi South).

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, intervened, urging a thorough screening and noting that Nigerians and the international community were closely watching the process.

Musa, nominated on Tuesday by President Bola Tinubu following the resignation of Defence Minister, Badaru Mohammed, on health grounds, pledged to prioritise the protection of lives and national territory.

“I pledge to do my best to ensure that Nigeria is secure and safe.

“We need the support of everyone, every Nigerian, working together as a team, because it’s going to be a team effort.

“The enemies we are dealing with are evil forces that don’t mean well for this country and have no respect for human lives… If we don’t work together, we will allow them to perpetrate the evil acts they have been doing,” he said.

His confirmation comes amid heightened concerns over nationwide kidnappings, insurgency and mass abductions.

News

NUC Gets €3m Loan To Start ICT Projects In Varsities

Published

6 hours ago

December 3, 2025

Editor

This initiative, known as the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project, aims to upgrade digital infrastructure, strengthen ICT capabilities, and promote digital literacy in these institutions.

The National Universities Commission says it has received €3m as the first tranche of the $40 million loan secured from the French Development Agency to support Information, Communication and Technology projects in 10 selected universities across the country.

Executive Secretary of the commission, Abdullahi Ribadu, announced this during the inaugural meeting of the 13th NUC Board on Wednesday at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Ribadu noted that since he assumed office about a year ago, the commission has pushed forward initiatives centred on research, entrepreneurship, digital transformation and skills development across Nigerian universities.

“We have secured $40 million loan from the French Development Agency for the ICT Blueprint Project in 10 selected universities. We have strengthened – only yesterday, the director confirmed to me that the first tranche of €3m has been deposited in our CBN account to kick-start the process.

“We have strengthened internal financial management, expanded access to university education through the licensing of new private universities, and approved new programmes and units.

“We have also supported the take-off of publicly funded universities, expanded open and distance learning centres, and continued system-wide quality assurance exercises. Currently, the 2025 Accreditation Exercise is ongoing.

“These priorities continue to form the foundation of the Commission’s direction, and I am seeking your support in advancing them,” he said.

Ribadu assured the board of the commission’s full cooperation, saying the management stands ready to draw from the members’ expertise.

“We will rely on your wisdom to guide us as we carry out our duties. I am confident that your collective experience will strengthen the commission’s capacity to guide the Nigerian university system at a time when higher education continues to evolve.

“We also look forward to using your networks to help advance projects and partnerships that will benefit the Commission and the entire university system,” he added.

On his part, Chairman of the 13th NUC Board, Emeritus Professor Oluremi Aina, thanked President Bola Tinubu for his sustained support for the university sector.

He said the board is assuming its mandate at a time of transition for higher education, with global standards rising and expectations increasing.

Aina outlined five central pillars that will guide the Board’s work, covering performance evaluation, improved university rankings, digital literacy, research and institutional reforms.

He said, “As we settle into this assignment, but permit me to present what I call five pillars that I believe will help guide our stewardship. One, evaluation of NUC performance.

“We must examine in detail the Act that buffered and laid the foundation for the NUC. We also need to be conversant with the various amendments to the act, its vision and mission, guiding principles and ethics.

“Then we must study the commission’s operational challenges and landmark achievements. Going forward, we should compare ourselves against global standards, not sentiments, not history, and where we fall short, how we fall short, and why we must adjust boldly. Two, aligning with the renewed hope agenda of the present administration, the president has made education a pillar of national rebirth with the establishment of the fund and other initiatives.

“The signal sent to the world is that Nigeria is ready to reset and rebuild. Through our assignment, we must lead other key stakeholders in the higher education sector. In pragmatically resolving the naughty and nagging agitation of the academic staff union and other university unions.

“Advancements must also be made to enhance digital literacy and especially the use of artificial intelligence, AI, as tools to strategically reposition the universities nationally and internationally. Overall, it will also be a priority for the 13th board to work with the management for radical improvements in both the global and webometric ranking of our universities.”

He added, “Three, identifying and dismantling obstacles to university quality. Governance deficiencies, fund constraints, research stagnation, et cetera, must no longer be accepted as normal. Our duty is to reform and make progress, not to manage decline.

“Four, reviewing existing funding and exploring new channels for sustainable funding. Nigerian universities cannot thrive on ingenuity alone. The board must intensify the research for alternative funding sources. Strengthen utilisation and explore emerging and local opportunities.

“And five, investing in the welfare and capacity of NUC staff and regulatory infrastructure. The system cannot overperform its operators. Credible accreditation and monitoring require strengthened conditions of service and protected regulatory independence.”

Aina added that the board would fully leverage technology in its operations.

“We will seek to leverage technology to ease our burden through the adoption of digital platforms for the advancement of our collective objectives. And I have a charge for the board.

“This board, in whom I am well-pleased, carries with it the weight of expectations and aspirations of the Nigerian people,” he said.

Earlier this year, the French Development Agency provided a €38 million credit facility to the National Universities Commission to support the digital transformation of 10 federal universities in Nigeria.

This initiative, known as the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project, aims to upgrade digital infrastructure, strengthen ICT capabilities, and promote digital literacy in these institutions.

News

Satguru Maharaj Pledges To Facilitates Kanu Release If…

Published

6 hours ago

December 3, 2025

Editor

The founder of One Love Family, Satguru Maharaj Ji, has vowed to get the incarcerated leader of the proscribed Igbo group, Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, released if the Biafra radio and sit-at-home order are stopped.

Maharaj Ji stated this while speaking in an interview granted to his temple’s in-house radio on Wednesday.

According to him, the IPOB leader was culpable of the terrorism charges levelled against him, and anyone guilty is liable to a death sentence.

He said, “We are, however, grateful that the matter has been put on hold in the sense that, by the accusations, it is always going to be death, looking at the level of crimes attached to him, with the way and manner the constitution is written. Anybody who is accused of doing such a thing (terrorism) is sentenced to death. It is only out of grace that Kanu was able to escape.

“So now it has to be by political settlement before he (Kanu) can be released, and it will be addressed in so many ways. For anyone advocating for his pardon, they have to take positive steps. In other words, they must not do so with empty hands; they should stop the Biafra radio wherever it is. Secondly, the sit-at-home order should be stopped, and the judgment should be accepted while the Igbo elders go behind the scenes to analyse and explain to the President.

“Today, the Igbos have been brought to the central realms of politics by Tinubu. And the Northern caliphate is not happy about it. They are not excited about the commission they were given…They should stop the propaganda that the East is about to be Islamised. When those are done, I know how to watch it out, Kanu will come out. I will help facilitate his release.“

The cleric joined the likes of Abia State governor, Alex Otti, activist Omoyele Sowore, and other South-East leaders to intensify efforts to secure the release of detained Kanu through a political arrangement, assuring residents of the region that “all hope is not lost.”

On Tuesday, Otti met Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, after visiting Kanu in the Sokoto prison facility, where the IPOB leader is serving his sentence.

Otti’s meeting with the President is believed to be part of ongoing engagements aimed at securing the release of the detained Kanu.

Recall that Kanu bagged a life sentence instead of the death penalty after the presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, handed down the sentence on counts one, two, four, five, and six.

The judge also handed Kanu a 20-year jail term on count three, with no option of fine, and a five-year jail term on count seven, with no option of fine.

Justice Omotosho delivered the judgment after convicting Kanu on all seven counts of terrorism offences.