The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has called for stronger collaboration among government agencies to combat systemic corruption in Nigeria, with a particular focus on tackling job racketeering in the public service.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) in Abuja, ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Aliyu, SAN, emphasised the need for transparency and fairness in recruitment processes across public institutions.
“Many young Nigerians are struggling to access job opportunities due to unfair recruitment practices,” Aliyu noted. “Government agencies must uphold integrity and ensure a level playing field for all candidates, regardless of their background.”
Aliyu highlighted the rise in job racketeering within public institutions as a significant threat to national development and a deterrent to foreign investment. He reaffirmed ICPC’s commitment to its three-pronged anti-corruption strategy: prevention, enforcement, and public enlightenment.
He proposed a formal collaboration with the CDCFIB through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate intelligence sharing, joint training, and capacity building.
In response, retired Maj.-Gen. Abdulmalik Jibril, Executive Secretary of the CDCFIB, thanked the ICPC for its warm reception and expressed the Board’s willingness to align with the Commission’s anti-corruption standards.
Jibril affirmed the CDCFIB’s commitment to promoting integrity and transparency in recruitment and operations. The CDCFIB, formerly known as the Customs, Immigration and Prisons Services Board, oversees recruitment and administration for paramilitary services under Nigeria’s Ministry of Interior.
