The Kano State House of Assembly has criticized the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) over what it described as a grossly lopsided recruitment exercise that undermines the interests of the state and violates the principle of federal character.
During plenary on Wednesday, the Majority Leader, Lawan Hussaini Dala, representing Dala Constituency under the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), alleged that the ongoing recruitment process heavily favoured candidates from southern Nigeria, particularly Lagos and Ogun states.
Dala noted that a total of 1,785 candidates were recruited nationwide, with only 651 slots allotted to the northern region, while the majority went to the southern states.
.He described the imbalance as “unacceptable and unjustifiable,” urging the NCS to cancel the recruitment and initiate a fair, inclusive process that ensures equitable representation across all regions.
The lawmaker also raised concerns about escalating cases of banditry in the Shannon area of the state, reportedly carried out by criminals crossing over from neighbouring Katsina State.
Other members of the Assembly supported Dala’s motion and called on northern lawmakers in the National Assembly to intervene and push for corrective measures.
Speaker of the House commended Dala for his “patriotic intervention,” directing the relevant committee to investigate the recruitment figures and report back with recommendations for further legislative action.