The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Federal Character Commission (FCC) have announced plans to establish a joint task force to tackle job racketeering and illegal employment schemes in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The initiative was unveiled during a courtesy visit by the ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, to the FCC headquarters in Abuja.
The visit marked the formalisation of a strategic collaboration between the two federal agencies to promote fairness, transparency, and equitable distribution of employment opportunities in line with the federal character principle outlined in Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution.
Aliyu described the partnership as a timely and necessary move to restore the integrity of the nation’s recruitment processes and protect young Nigerians from fraudulent employment practices.
“This partnership is about more than just enforcement; it is about protecting the rights and future of our young citizens, many of whom are victims of illegal recruitment schemes,” he said.
The ICPC chairman revealed that the commission is currently investigating several job racketeering cases involving MDAs, including one disturbing instance where a single zone reportedly received 189 employment slots over two years, in direct violation of the federal character framework.
“This not only violates due process and equity but also crushes hope and trust in our institutions,” Aliyu said, describing the trend as a “blatant abuse” of constitutional principles and a threat to national unity.
He emphasized that both the ICPC and FCC play complementary roles in safeguarding transparency and accountability in public service.
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Aliyu, therefore, proposed the establishment of the joint technical task force to monitor recruitment patterns across federal institutions, investigate violations of the federal character principle, prevent backdoor employment schemes, and recommend policy reforms to ensure equity and fairness in public sector hiring.
Furthermore, he disclosed that a draft memorandum of understanding is already in progress and is expected to be finalized within two weeks, paving the way for the operational launch of the task force.
Referencing Articles 5 and 36 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), the ICPC boss called for stronger institutional synergy, saying the collaboration would serve as a national model for coordinated anti-corruption enforcement.
“This joint effort can serve as a national model where equity and integrity work hand-in-hand to rebuild public confidence in governance,” he concluded.
Responding, the acting Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Kayode Oladele, lauded the ICPC for spearheading the initiative, describing it as a pioneering move to ensure fairness in federal appointments.
“This is the first time our two agencies are coming together to critically examine the fairness and transparency of the federal character framework,” he said.
Oladele emphasized that the FCC’s mandate goes beyond employment to include the equitable distribution of socio-economic amenities and infrastructure at all levels of government.
He pledged the commission’s full support in implementing the task force’s objectives.
“We are pleased with this initiative and fully committed to supporting it to ensure justice, equity, and national unity are truly upheld,” he added.
