FG Warns Job Seekers Against Seven Costly Mistakes in Government Recruitment
The Federal Government has cautioned Nigerians seeking employment in the public service to avoid seven common mistakes that could jeopardise their chances of securing legitimate Government jobs.
Global Mirror News gathered that the warning was issued by the Federal Character Commission (FCC) in a public awareness advisory published on its official platform, where the Commission urged applicants to strictly adhere to official recruitment procedures and remain vigilant against fraudulent recruitment schemes.
According to the Commission, many job seekers unknowingly reduce their chances of success by relying on unverified recruitment information, submitting inaccurate details or failing to comply with stipulated application guidelines.
The FCC identified the seven major mistakes to avoid as applying through unverified sources, paying individuals to secure government jobs, ignoring application requirements, missing application deadlines, providing incorrect information, failing to prepare for post-application assessments and assuming every advertised vacancy is genuine.
The Commission warned that fraudsters often create fake recruitment portals, social media advertisements and misleading messages to deceive unsuspecting applicants. It advised Nigerians to verify all recruitment announcements through recognised government platforms before submitting applications or personal information.
The agency also cautioned applicants against anyone demanding payment or claiming to have the influence to guarantee employment in any federal institution.
According to the Commission, while concerns about fairness in Government recruitment should be taken seriously, all recruitment exercises into Federal Ministries, departments and Agencies are expected to follow established procedures, and anyone requesting money to facilitate employment is acting illegally.
The FCC further advised applicants to carefully review eligibility criteria, including educational qualifications, age limits, professional certifications, work experience and all required supporting documents before submitting their applications.
It also encouraged candidates to submit applications well before the closing dates, warning that last-minute submissions could result in technical issues, incomplete applications or missed deadlines.
The Commission stressed the importance of accuracy, urging applicants to thoroughly cross-check their personal information, qualifications and contact details, noting that errors could affect verification and eventual eligibility.
Beyond the application stage, the FCC advised prospective applicants to prepare adequately for aptitude tests, interviews and other recruitment assessments rather than assuming the process ends after submitting an application.
The Commission also reminded Nigerians that not every job vacancy advertised online is authentic, urging them to avoid offers that promise guaranteed employment, request payments before processing applications or create unnecessary urgency.
Clarifying its statutory responsibility, the FCC explained that it does not directly recruit employees into federal ministries, departments or agencies. Instead, its mandate is to ensure fairness and compliance with the Federal Character Principle as provided under Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The Commission noted that verified vacancies from federal institutions are published through its recruitment platform, enabling applicants to access authentic opportunities before proceeding to the respective recruiting agencies’ official application portals.
The FCC urged Nigerians to remain vigilant by verifying recruitment information, following official application guidelines, avoiding fraudulent agents, providing accurate information and applying only through legitimate Government channels to improve their chances of securing genuine public service employment.
