Kano Assembly Demands Cancellation of Customs Cadet Recruitment

……Describes Exercise as Nepotistic, Violating Federal Character Principles

The Kano State House of Assembly has called for the immediate cancellation of the recently released cadet recruitment list by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), describing the exercise as unfair and contrary to the Federal Character principle.

The call was made in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Kamaluddeen Sani Shawai.

During plenary presided over by Speaker Rt. Hon. Jibril Ismail Falgore, the House expressed strong disapproval of the recruitment process, which it said was marred by nepotism, regional imbalance, and a blatant disregard for equity.

Presenting the motion, the Majority Leader, Hon. Lawal Hussain Dala, decried the alleged lopsidedness in the recruitment exercise, saying it lacked fairness and transparency. He said the pattern of selection favoured the Southern region—particularly the South West—at the expense of the North.

According to the lawmakers, out of a total of 1,785 cadet officers recruited, more than 1,000 were reportedly from the South, while less than 540 slots were allocated to the North, despite its larger population.

The Assembly accused the Customs Service Commission of deliberately marginalizing the North and violating the principles enshrined in the Federal Character Commission Act.

Speaker Falgore urged all Northern representatives in the National Assembly to urgently intervene and ensure that the recruitment exercise is halted in the interest of fairness, national unity, and cohesion.

He further called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order an immediate review and cancellation of the recruitment list, emphasizing that such practices threaten national integration.

The House unanimously adopted the motion, demanding the total cancellation of the Customs cadet recruitment exercise.