FCSC disregards Muslims interest in promotion interviews

The commission had issued a circular to conduct interviews in June 2018, precisely to commence from the 11th. It however appears that while fixing those dates, the commission did not take cognizance of the Ramadan period which coincided with the arrangement for the conduct of the examination.  Although the attention of the commission was later […]

The commission had issued a circular to conduct interviews in June 2018, precisely to commence from the 11th. It however appears that while fixing those dates, the commission did not take cognizance of the Ramadan period which coincided with the arrangement for the conduct of the examination.  Although the attention of the commission was later drawn to consider shifting the dates by at least two weeks after the Sallah break which may likely fall on the 15 & 18 of June they only shifted same by a week, from 11th to 18th June. This, to many Muslims is inconsiderate and insensitive to their religious inclination. The Ramadan is the most exalted month in the Islamic calendar that accompanies with it several activities of worship that range from fasting, night vigils, tafseer, lesser hajj and many more. Opportunities are therefore exploited maximally to spiritually get intimate with one’s creator. This in essence divert attention from worldly mundane issues until expiration of the month. In this circumstance committing another time to read for exam would only be diversionary and bear the consequence of de-concentrating the mind thereby putting them at a disadvantage relative to their Christian colleagues for ill preparation. 

What’s more, the commission had remained adamant given that its composition is not properly constituted as enshrined in the constitution to enable them properly convene. While the exam is scheduled for June, the Orals was slated for October, four months later. This can only be described an aberration. It therefore implies that the commission is exploiting the inability of the Buhari administration to properly constitute the commission more than a year and half after the expiration of the term of the last Chairman given them the leeway to perpetuate discriminatory agenda putting a particular section of the nation at serious disadvantage. It is further interesting to note that of the only three commissioners left, all are Christians and only one is from the north central. It therefore behoves on the relevant authorities to prevailed on these insensitive crop to immediately rescind their ill-fated circular to give sufficient time for the Muslim candidates to adequately prepare given that vacancies are highly constrained which create room for serious irregularities due to lopsided representation.

Iliyasu Dan’azumi, Abuja.