The recruitment of 4,904 civil servants, who were employed by the Federal Civil Service Commission in previous regime of the past president Goodluck Jonathan, now stand the risk of retrenchment with the Federal Character Commission heavily questioning the recruitment process.

It gathered on Monday that approaches by the Federal Civil Service Commission to retrench the workers had erupted in a dispute in the civil service.

A number not lesser than 247 of the workers who stand to be retrenched had drafted petitions to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission as regards a push by the a plan Federal Character Commission to revoke their employment.

Dr. Shettima Abba who occupies the position of the acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, had questioned the Chairman of the FCSC, Mrs. Joan Ayo, for supposed breach of the principle of federal character stated in the employment of the civil servants in a letter bearing the date May 3, 2016.

Dr. Shettima Abba made accusations that the employment process was allegedly ridiculed in favour of the South-South geopolitical zone as opposed against other parts of the nation.

He pointed accusing fingers that the South-South had received 33.6% of the whole employment schedule as against the 26.2% which was allocated to applicants hailing from the North-West, North-East, as well as North-Central geopolitical zones.

Abba stated, “The Federal Character Commission has viewed and observed with concern the recruitment exercises undertaken by the Federal Civil Service between 2013 and 2015, which glaringly is lopsided and grossly abused the principle of Federal Character to which all institution have subscribed.

“The recruitment which recorded the engagement of about 4,904 workers, threw away all common sense and wisdom of national cohesion and integration by favouring some states to the detriment of others.

“We are worried that if this trend is allowed to continue, then some sections of the country may not only feel alienated but may feel insecure by the action of people in authority.

“It is inconceivable and a gross injustice for a geopolitical zone to be allocated 33.6 per cent of the total candidates recruited as against 26.2 per cent for three zones combined, North-East, North-West and North-Central.

“We further request without prejudice that all processes must involve the Federal Character Commission for advice and strict adherence to the principle of federal character as contained in our circular on guidelines and procedure for recruitment.”

He stated, “I’m not aware that anybody was interrogated by the ICPC or whether the chairman was invited. Nobody interrogated the chairman of the FCSC, any commissioner or any official.”

Yet sacking 4904 civil servants in this economy is outrageous. Though the rule of law should preside but then terminating such number of jobs on the shallow grounds of ethnic or geopolitical allocations is quite harsh.