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

NAF Launches Attack On Terrorists In Borno

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, operating as part of the joint task force of Operation Hadin Kai, has carried out a coordinated air interdiction at AbbagaJiri in the Timbuktu Triangle, Borno State.

According to Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information of NAF, the air strikes successfully paved the way for ground troops.

He explained that the operation was based on actionable intelligence from multiple sources, which confirmed the presence of terrorists, their structures, and concealed logistics facilities in the area.

Ejodame stated that NAF air assets were deployed in integrated surveillance and precision strike roles to target identified threats.

The operation aimed to degrade terrorist capabilities, deny them sanctuary, and shape the battlefield for ground forces, all while strictly adhering to rules of engagement and protecting civilians.

He added, “The Identified terrorist structures were decisively engaged and destroyed, denying the terrorists freedom of action, while a follow-up engagement neutralised armed elements observed converging on the location.”

“Subsequent advances by ground troops into the area confirmed the effectiveness of the air strikes and validated the success of the joint air–land operation.”

Speaking on the mission, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, said, “The success of the mission reflects the NAF’s resolve to dominate the air domain in support of joint operations.”

Aneke further emphasized that the operation highlighted the service’s commitment to providing precise and decisive air power in support of ground forces.

In his words, “We will continue to deny terrorists freedom of movement, sanctuary, and logistics wherever they seek to hide. Air operations will remain relentless and intelligence-driven.”

“Our operations are carefully planned and intelligence-led, ensuring maximum effect on hostile elements while safeguarding innocent civilians.”

“The Nigerian Air Force will sustain pressure until terrorist networks are completely dismantled.”

He further noted that the operation showcased NAF’s aggressive stance, precision employment of airpower, and dedication to sustained joint operations.

Aneke added that such missions play a crucial role in enabling ground troops to maintain momentum and deliver decisive outcomes against terrorist networks threatening lives, property, and Nigeria’s national security.

News

Lagos Parks To Close For Maintenance – State Govt

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, LASPARK, has announced that all public parks under its management across the state will be temporarily closed for routine maintenance and upgrades.

In a statement released on January 9 and shared via its official platforms early Saturday, LASPARK said, “All parks under our management will be closed to the public from January 12 to January 31, 2026.

“This follows increased visitor activity during the recent festive season.”

The agency listed several popular recreational spots that will be affected, including “Ndubisi Kanu Park, Alausa JJT Park, Dr. Finnih Abayomi Park in Oregun, and all other LASPARK-managed parks across Lagos State.”

News

PAP Sends Additional 34 Foreign Post-graduate Scholarship Beneficiaries To UK Varsities

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has deployed an additional 34 foreign post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries to various universities in the United Kingdom for the 2025-2026 academic year.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri by Mr Igoniko Oduma, Special Assistant on Media to Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator, PAP.

According to the statement, the scholars’ programmes include data science, fintech analytics, cyber security, international energy law and policy, construction project management, public health, agri-food technology, electrical and petroleum engineering, among others.

The statement added that more foreign post-graduate scholars will be sent to UK universities in the current academic session.

“In December 2025, nine students, who were the first set of offshore post-graduate scholarship developments by the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, for the 2024-2025 academic year, graduated from their various programmes in UK universities.

“Otuaro has deployed over 9000 students to universities within and outside Nigeria for different industry-relevant programmes since he assumed office in March 2024,” the statement partly reads.

Speaking at the pre-departure orientation programme for the scholars at the PAP headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday, Otuaro said that the large-scale deployment was aimed at making the Niger Delta a knowledge-driven region.

He said that his leadership reinvigorated the programme to give it a new momentum in service delivery to the people of the region based on the mandate of President Bola Tinubu.

Otuaro said, “We are sending all of you for post-graduate studies in various universities in the United Kingdom.

“The PAP now has a new momentum and direction because of the repositioning and broad reforms that we carried out in line with the mandate of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.

“The objective behind the huge scholarships deployment is to ensure that we develop the needed human capital to transform the Niger Delta and generate knowledge-wealth.

“We want to develop relevant manpower in critical disciplines for our region and by extension, the country, because you are expected to contribute your quota to national development after successful graduation.”

The PAP boss, who was represented at the event by his Technical Assistant, Mr Edgar Biu, advised the scholars to study hard to achieve academic excellence in their various fields of research.

According to him, the scholars have an obligation to justify the Federal Government’s investment in their education and future.

He reiterated his warning that beneficiaries should not take for granted the opportunity to further their academic pursuits in the interest of the Niger Delta and indeed the country.

Otuaro expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his “enormous interest and support for the Programme”, particularly the approval of an upward review of the programme’s budget from N65billion to N150billion.

He also expressed gratitude to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his impeccable guidance and supervision of the programme’s initiatives.

Otuaro, therefore, cautioned the scholars to obey their host country’s laws and the rules and regulations of their various institutions, stressing that they are ambassadors of Nigeria, the Niger Delta and their communities and families.

Highpoint of the orientation programme was the presentation of laptops to the scholars to help them in their studies.