By Boluwatife Oshadiya | July 29, 2026
Key Points
- The Federal Character Commission has outlined seven common mistakes that reduce applicants’ chances of securing federal government jobs.
- The commission warned Nigerians against fake recruitment portals, unofficial vacancy announcements and paying for government jobs.
- The FCC clarified that it does not recruit into federal ministries, departments and agencies but only promotes compliance with the Federal Character Principle.
Main Story
The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has warned Nigerians seeking employment in the federal public service to avoid seven common mistakes that could jeopardise their chances of securing legitimate government jobs, while urging applicants to follow only official recruitment procedures.
The advisory, published on the commission’s website on Tuesday, comes amid persistent cases of fake recruitment exercises and employment scams targeting job seekers across the country. According to the FCC, applicants often undermine their own prospects by relying on unverified recruitment information, submitting inaccurate details or failing to comply with official application requirements.
The commission identified the seven mistakes as applying through unverified sources, paying individuals to secure government jobs, ignoring application requirements, missing application deadlines, providing incorrect information, failing to prepare for aptitude tests or interviews, and assuming every advertised vacancy is genuine.
“Applicants should be cautious of anyone requesting payment or claiming they can guarantee employment, and they are encouraged to report suspicious recruitment activities through appropriate channels,” the Federal Character Commission said.
The commission advised applicants to verify recruitment information through recognised government platforms before submitting applications or personal information, warning that fraudsters frequently create fake recruitment portals, social media advertisements and deceptive online messages to exploit unsuspecting job seekers.
It also urged candidates to carefully review eligibility requirements—including educational qualifications, age limits, professional certifications, work experience and supporting documents—before applying, while encouraging early submission of applications to avoid technical issues or missed deadlines.
Clarifying its statutory role, the FCC said it does not conduct recruitment into federal ministries, departments or agencies. Instead, recruitment is handled by the respective institutions, while the commission is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Federal Character Principle under Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
What’s Being Said
The commission said applicants should remain vigilant throughout the recruitment process and avoid offers that promise guaranteed employment or require payment before applications are processed.
It added that verified vacancies from federal institutions are published through its recruitment platform, allowing applicants to confirm the authenticity of available opportunities before proceeding to the recruiting institution’s official application portal.
What’s Next
- Nigerians seeking federal government jobs are expected to verify recruitment notices through official government platforms before submitting applications.
- The FCC said verified vacancies will continue to be published through its recruitment portal to help applicants identify legitimate recruitment exercises.
- The commission urged job seekers to report suspected recruitment scams and individuals demanding payment for government jobs through the appropriate authorities.
Bottom Line: The FCC’s advisory reinforces the government’s effort to curb recruitment fraud while encouraging greater transparency in federal hiring. For job seekers, following official recruitment channels and avoiding shortcuts remains the most effective way to improve their chances of securing legitimate public service employment.
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