A scandal has hit the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) as it’s revealed that the commission hired around 240 people without publicly advertising the positions.
The recruitment, allegedly orchestrated by the new Director General, Mr. Charles Ebuebu, is said to have been an attempt to gain favor with the presidency and the National Assembly.
According to sources, this recruitment, conducted between December 2023 and January 2024, bypassed the usual approval process for regularizing contract staff and was not advertised to the public.
It’s claimed that Mr. Ebuebu utilized this opportunity for widespread appointment sharing among members of the National Assembly, the Presidency, ministers, friends, and associates, violating established legal provisions.
The sources suggest that the recruitment process was marred by irregularities, raising concerns about fairness in Nigeria despite promises of a “Renewed hope government.”
The original approval for the regularization of contract staff members was allegedly misused, with slots distributed to political figures and cronies.
Some existing contract staff members, who had dedicated years of service to the commission, were reportedly neglected in favor of new recruits.
The NBC had previously sought approval to incorporate these experienced individuals as full staff members due to their training and expertise.
Critics claim that the new Director General abandoned the agreed-upon arrangement by recruiting fresh individuals who were not part of the existing system, all without adhering to legal requirements for advertising vacancies to the public.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the arbitrary actions of the NBC DG, a senior staff member highlighted the reshuffling of senior directors and the replacement of the Head of Human Resources as steps taken to facilitate the controversial recruitment process.
The influx of political figures seeking appointments further fueled concerns about the transparency of the process.
Allegations also suggest that some contract staff members paid exorbitant amounts to secure appointments.
Tensions reportedly escalated to the point of physical altercations among staff members who disapproved of the dubious conduct of the recruitment exercise.
Despite claims that the new DG was not involved in the recruitment scam and joined the commission when the process was almost concluded, questions remain about the transparency of the entire affair.
Critics argue that the “Renewed hope government” seems to have fallen short of its promises, leaving doubts about the prospects for the common man in Nigeria.
The situation raises concerns about the integrity of the employment process at the NBC and the adherence to established legal procedures.
Attempts to obtain a response from the DG or the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Antia Ekanem, have reportedly been unsuccessful, leaving the situation unresolved and contributing to the growing discontent within the commission.
