By Ihechi Enyinnaya
The Federal Government has cautioned Nigerians seeking employment in the public service against seven common mistakes that could jeopardise their chances of securing government jobs.
The warning was issued by the Federal Character Commission (FCC) in a public awareness advisory published on Tuesday, urging applicants to follow official recruitment procedures and remain vigilant against fraudulent schemes.
According to the commission, many job seekers unknowingly weaken their chances by relying on fake recruitment portals, ignoring application guidelines, submitting inaccurate information or missing deadlines.
The FCC identified the seven major mistakes as applying through unverified sources, paying individuals to secure government jobs, ignoring application requirements, missing application deadlines, providing false or inaccurate information, failing to prepare for recruitment assessments, and assuming every advertised vacancy is genuine.
The commission warned that fraudsters often create fake recruitment websites, social media posts and misleading advertisements to exploit unsuspecting applicants. It advised Nigerians to verify all recruitment announcements through recognised government platforms before submitting applications or personal details.
It also cautioned applicants against paying anyone who claims to have the influence to secure employment in government agencies.
The commission stressed that recruitment into federal institutions follows established procedures and that anyone demanding money or promising guaranteed employment is acting illegally.
Applicants were advised to carefully review eligibility criteria, including educational qualifications, age limits, professional certifications, work experience and other required documents before applying.
The FCC further urged candidates to submit their applications well before closing dates to avoid last-minute technical issues or incomplete submissions.
It also advised applicants to ensure that all personal information, qualifications and contact details are accurate, noting that errors could affect verification and eligibility during the recruitment process.
Beyond submitting applications, the commission encouraged candidates to prepare for aptitude tests, interviews and other screening exercises, reminding them that recruitment does not end with the application stage.
The agency also warned Nigerians to be wary of advertisements promising guaranteed employment, demanding payment before processing applications or creating unnecessary urgency, describing such offers as common signs of recruitment scams.
Clarifying its mandate, the FCC said it does not directly recruit workers into ministries, departments or agencies. Rather, its role is to ensure compliance with the Federal Character Principle and promote fairness in federal recruitment.
The commission noted that verified vacancies from federal institutions are published on its recruitment platform, enabling applicants to access authentic information before proceeding to the recruiting agency’s official application portal.
It urged job seekers to rely only on official channels, comply with recruitment requirements and avoid fraudulent offers to improve their chances of securing legitimate government employment.