Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a formal disclaimer, disavowing a fraudulent recruitment scheme currently making the rounds online.
The ministry warned the public to steer clear of the fake job advertisement, which falsely claims to be authorised by the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The statement, titled “MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS DISCLAIMS FAKE RECRUITMENT EXERCISE,” was released by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.
It alerted the public to a bogus recruitment notice being circulated via online platforms and other media, purporting to invite applications for employment within the ministry.
“The ministry unequivocally disassociates itself from this misleading and malicious advertisement and urges the general public to disregard such announcements and refrain from engaging with individuals or entities promoting these fraudulent schemes,” the statement partly reads.
To clarify, the ministry emphasised that all official recruitment into the Nigerian Foreign Service is solely carried out by the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not engage in direct recruitment and does not request or accept any form of payment for job applications or offers of employment.
“Members of the public are, therefore, strongly advised to remain cautious and not to fall victim to such fraudulent schemes,” the statement added.
The ministry reiterated its commitment to transparency, integrity, and public accountability in all operational matters. It also called on Nigerians to remain alert and well-informed to avoid falling prey to job-related scams.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) recently extended the deadline for submission of applications for available positions within the Federal Civil Service. Originally set to close on March 10, 2025, the new deadline has been moved to March 17, 2025.
The commission had urged all qualified Nigerians to take advantage of the extension and submit their applications promptly. It reaffirmed its dedication to a fair and merit-based recruitment process to select the most competent individuals for government service.
The nationwide recruitment exercise commenced on January 27, 2025, and requires all applications to be submitted via the official FCSC recruitment portal: https://recruitment.fedcivilservice.gov.ng.
Applicants were instructed to apply for only one position and to upload essential documents such as their curriculum vitae, educational certificates (including PhD/Master’s if applicable), NYSC certificates, birth certificate or age declaration, and a recent passport photograph, among others.
Since the recruitment announcement, there have been widespread reports of difficulty accessing the portal due to unusually high traffic.
The FCSC chairman, Professor Tunji Olaop, acknowledged these challenges, attributing them to the sheer volume of applicants.
He assured candidates that the commission was working diligently to address the technical issues and improve accessibility, urging applicants to be patient as adjustments were being made to ensure a smoother submission process.
