A group identifying themselves as “Concerned Personnel of the Federal Fire Service (FFS)” has petitioned the Honourable Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), Gen. A.M. Jibril (Rtd.), over what they describe as an “illegal and unjustifiable recruitment exercise” into mid-management positions within the Federal Fire Service.
In a strongly worded open letter dated July 28, which was obtained on Monday by our correspondent, the aggrieved personnel condemned the move to recruit external candidates into Grade Levels 10 to 14, alleging it violates existing government policies and poses a serious threat to the integrity and effectiveness of the Service.
“We write to formally express our deep dismay and strong objection to the ongoing illegal and unjustifiable recruitment exercise… This exercise not only violates established guidelines but also threatens to undermine the integrity, efficiency, and operational effectiveness of the FFS,” the letter read.
The group cited a specific breach of the 2013 CDCFIB Guidelines, which they say expressly halted the transfer of service into paramilitary institutions. According to them, the current recruitment being driven by the Controller General of the FFS, Abdulganiyu O. Jaji, is “a blatant disregard for this directive” and a calculated attempt to “sabotage established regulations and set a dangerous precedent.”
“The Federal Fire Service is a highly technical institution where expertise is developed through years of training, field experience, and institutional knowledge,” the letter emphasized. “Bringing in external candidates—many of whom lack the necessary firefighting and emergency response competencies—jeopardizes the safety of Nigerians.”
The personnel further accused the CGF of attempting to install loyalists in key positions ahead of his alleged exit on or before August 13, 2025. “This move appears to be a calculated attempt by the CGF Abdulganiyu O. Jaji to marginalize qualified personnel and impose loyalists,” they claimed.
Criticising the move as contrary to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, they said: “It is alarming that this recruitment exercise contradicts PBAT’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasises transparency, meritocracy, and efficient service delivery.”
They noted that despite a manpower strength of over 10,000 personnel and an additional 5,000 recruits in the pipeline, the leadership of the Service was prioritizing “illegal mid-level appointments” instead of addressing fundamental institutional needs.
The group also pointed out that there were no authorized vacancies for GL 10 to 12 as per the 2025 Approved Vacancy Establishment (AVE) issued by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation. “Recruiting externally into these grades is not only unnecessary but also a gross violation of due process, leading to overstaffing, redundancy, and wastage of government resources,” they argued.
They said qualified internal candidates who have undergone necessary training and experience were being deliberately sidelined. “Instead of rewarding competence and dedication, the CGF and the Board are favouring external candidates with questionable expertise,” the petition alleged.
Describing the effects of the situation, they said it has led to “severe demoralization among personnel, declining productivity, operational inefficiency, increased indiscipline, and disloyalty within the ranks.”
The personnel warned that if the Ministry and the Board fail to halt the exercise, they would be forced to consider legal and industrial actions. “We will have no choice but to consider industrial action to demand justice, pursue legal action to enforce compliance with the 2013 Guidelines and AVE, and expose this misconduct to relevant anti-corruption agencies and the public,” they declared.
In concluding, they urged the Honourable Minister and the CDCFIB Secretary to “immediately suspend this illegal recruitment, conduct a proper staff audit, and promote deserving internal candidates in line with extant regulations.”
“We trust that you will act swiftly and justly to avert an impending crisis,” the letter concluded.
