Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open
letter to Mr Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN), requesting him to “immediately withdraw hundreds of letters of
employment issued following a seriously flawed recruitment process and to
put in place a system of recruitment and hiring based on the principles of
non-discrimination, transparency, participation and objective criteria
such as merit, equity and aptitude.”
The group warned that “Should Mr Emefiele and the CBN fail and/or neglect
to act as requested within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of
this letter, the Registered Trustees of SERAP shall take appropriate legal
action to ensure effective remedies for millions of Nigerians that have
been denied equal opportunity to participate in the recruitment process.
And this may be without further notice to you.”
The letter dated 18 March 2016 and signed by SERAP executive director
Adetokunbo Mumuni reads in part: “This corrupt process amounts to a
fundamental breach of constitutionally and internationally recognized
human rights of millions of Nigerians particularly the right to equality
and non-discrimination, to work and to human dignity.”
“Instead of the CBN promoting equality of opportunity and access to
employment for all Nigerians, it has perpetrated discrimination, and
therefore denied an opportunity for economic self‑reliance and in
many cases a means for millions of Nigerians to escape poverty and live a
life of dignity.”
“The process also directly breaches article 7 of the UN Convention against
Corruption which Nigeria has ratified. Article 7 requires institutions
like the CBN to adopt, maintain and strengthen systems for the recruitment
and hiring of civil servants that are based on principles of transparency
and objective criteria such as merit, equity and aptitude.”
“SERAP believes that by the secret recruitment, millions of otherwise
qualified Nigerians have been treated less favourably than the children of
the politically and economically connected. This differential treatment is
arbitrary and cannot be reasonably and objectively justified. It can in
fact result in pervasive discrimination, stigmatization and negative
stereotyping. The secret recruitment also offends the requirement for
Nigeria to make the labour market open to everyone in the country.”
“SERAP notes that non-discrimination and equality are essential for the
exercise and enjoyment of other constitutionally and internationally
recognized human rights, as well as equal and effective protection before
and of the law. We also remind you that every Nigerian has the right to be
able to work, allowing him/her to live in dignity.”
“SERAP is seriously concerned that the secret recruitment unfairly
deprives millions of Nigerians the right to work, impermissibly limiting
their freedom regarding the choice to work, and undermining their personal
development and social and economic inclusion. While the right to work is
not an absolute and unconditional right to obtain employment, it implies
the right of access to a system of protection guaranteeing every eligible
Nigerian access to employment, and the right not to be unfairly deprived
of employment.”
“The secret recruitment has therefore impaired and nullified the exercise
of the rights of Nigerians, especially disadvantaged and marginalized
individuals and groups to human dignity, equality and non-discrimination.”
“Furthermore, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) provides in
section 42 that a citizen of Nigeria of a particular group shall not, by
reason only that he is such a person: a) be subjected to disabilities or
restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other groups are not made
subject; or be accorded any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to
all citizens of Nigeria.”
“Section 16(2) provides that the economic system will not be operated in
such a manner as to permit the concentration of wealth or means of
production and exchange in the hands of few individuals or of a group,
such as the politically and economically connected or their children.”
“Section 17 provides that the state social order is founded on ideals of
freedom, equality and justice. Subsection (3) of the same section provides
that the state shall direct its policy towards, ensuring that all citizens
without discrimination on any group whatever, have the opportunity for
securing adequate means of livelihood as well as adequate opportunity to
secure suitable employment.”
“According to reports, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) carried out an
alleged secret recruitment of over 900 employees on your directive and
under your supervision. Many of the beneficiaries are said to be children
and relatives of the politically and economically connected. Our
information suggests that there were no prior notifications on the
recruitment through advertisements to give all Nigerians the opportunity
to participate.”