FCC warns Nigerian youths against paying bribes for Federal jobs
The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has warned Nigerian job seekers against paying money or offering sexual favours to individuals claiming they can secure federal government appointments for them.
FCC Executive Chairman, Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, and the Federal Commissioner representing Enugu State, Hon. Peter Ogbonna Eze, issued the warning on Thursday, September 10, 2026, during the inaugural Peter Eze Enugu Youth Connect 2026 at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.
The event, themed “Beyond Quotas: Unlocking Opportunities for Enugu Youth Through the Federal Character Commission,” brought together unemployed graduates and young entrepreneurs for discussions on accessing opportunities within the federal public service.
Eze condemned the exploitation of job seekers by fraudulent middlemen, stressing that legitimate employment opportunities across the nation’s more than 700 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) should be accessed through transparent and merit-based processes.
“You do not need to buy a job; you need to prepare yourself. Anyone asking you to pay for a legitimate government job is asking you to participate in an illegal act and should be reported through the appropriate channels,” Eze said.
He also urged young Nigerians to abandon the belief that federal government positions are reserved exclusively for people with political connections.
According to him, many qualified youths deny themselves opportunities by refusing to apply for advertised vacancies because they assume the positions have already been allocated.
“No player has ever won a football match outside the pitch. You can barely get an opportunity you do not apply for,” he said, urging youths not to disqualify themselves through fear, misinformation or assumptions that recruitment outcomes have been predetermined.
In her keynote address, Omidiran said the FCC’s constitutional responsibility goes beyond the distribution of numerical quotas, extending to promoting equity, national cohesion and meaningful youth participation.
She urged young Nigerians to exercise caution when responding to recruitment advertisements, particularly those circulated through unofficial platforms.
“In this digital age, information is powerful, but verified information is indispensable. Young people must authenticate opportunities and remain vigilant against fraudulent recruitment schemes and deceptive offers,” Omidiran said.
She disclosed that the commission had upgraded its digital portal to provide direct and authenticated information on recruitment opportunities, helping to connect job seekers with legitimate public institutions.
Omidiran further stressed that while the principle of equity helps guarantee access to opportunities, competence, character and discipline ultimately determine professional success.
The youth empowerment programme also featured the announcement of **full foreign study scholarships for five selected participants**, as well as training sessions on accessing domestic grants, fellowships and international entrepreneurship opportunities.
The FCC's warning comes amid longstanding concerns over fraudulent recruitment schemes and the alleged sale of employment slots within Nigeria's public sector.
Job seekers have previously been targeted by syndicates claiming to have connections within agencies such as the Nigerian Customs Service, Nigerian Immigration Service, Central Bank of Nigeria and various paramilitary organisations.
The fraudsters often demand hundreds of thousands or even millions of naira for legitimate or non-existent vacancies, exploiting the country's high youth unemployment and the desperation of job seekers.
Despite repeated warnings from government authorities and investigations by anti-graft agencies, fraudulent recruitment networks continue to operate, making public awareness and verification of employment opportunities increasingly important.
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