By ABDULKABIR MUHAMMED

A social development group, the Bassa-Nge Community Development Network (BNCDN), has condemned the “deliberate” exclusion of the Bassa Local Government Area from the list of eligible Local Government Areas in Kogi State in the ongoing NSCDC recruitment. Recall that the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board had announced a recruitment into the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to begin on 14th July, but was paused and reopened on the 21st July, 2025.

However, in an open letter to the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Comrade Joseph Emmanuel Yaba, the president of Bassa-Nge Community Development Network (BNCDN), has decried the “marginalization” of Bassa-Nge indigenes in the ongoing application.

“It has come to our notice, with deep concern and disappointment, that Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) has been deliberately excluded from the list of eligible Local Government Areas in Kogi State in the ongoing recruitment into the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Fire Service, Nigerian Correctional Service, and Nigeria Immigration Service—all agencies under the Federal Ministry of Interior,” the letter partly reads.

In the open letter dated 21 July, 2025, Comrade Yaba argues that the “unjustifiable exclusion is not only discriminatory but also a direct violation of the principles of fairness, federal character, and equal opportunity enshrined in our national ethos.”

“This deliberate act marginalizes our people, particularly the youth, from contributing to and benefiting from federal structures and services. It further fuels the sense of alienation and historical neglect our community has endured for decades,” the president added.

The social advocacy group said that they “strongly condemn this exclusion and demand an urgent review and rectification of the recruitment list to include Bassa Local Government Area alongside other LGAs in Kogi State. We equally request that the application portal be re-opened or extended to allow eligible candidates from Bassa LGA to apply.”

On Mon, Jul 21, 2025, 7:26 PM isaac umunna isumunna@yahoo.com wrote:

OPEN LETTER TO THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF INTERIOR, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

ON THE DELIBERATE EXCLUSION OF BASSA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA FROM THE ONGOING RECRUITMENT INTO PARAMILITARY AGENCIES UNDER THE MINISTRY

Date: 21July 2025

Honourable Minister of Interior,

Federal Ministry of Interior,

Abuja, Nigeria.

Attention:

The Chairman of the Board

Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board

Your Excellency,

Subject: Condemnation of the Deliberate Exclusion of Bassa Local Government from the List of LGAs under Kogi State in the Ongoing Recruitment Exercise

I write to you on behalf of the Bassa-Nge Community Development Network (BNCDN)—a socio-developmental organization advocating for equitable inclusion, youth empowerment, and grassroots development across Bassa Local Government Area in Kogi State.

It has come to our notice, with deep concern and disappointment, that Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) has been deliberately excluded from the list of eligible Local Government Areas in Kogi State in the ongoing recruitment into the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Fire Service, Nigerian Correctional Service, and Nigeria Immigration Service—all agencies under the Federal Ministry of Interior.

This unjustifiable exclusion is not only discriminatory but also a direct violation of the principles of fairness, federal character, and equal opportunity enshrined in our national ethos. Bassa Local Government is one of the constitutionally recognized LGAs in Kogi State, with thousands of qualified youths who are eligible and eager to serve in these national institutions.

This deliberate act marginalizes our people, particularly the youth, from contributing to and benefiting from federal structures and services. It further fuels the sense of alienation and historical neglect our community has endured for decades.

We demand to know:

¤ On what grounds was Bassa LGA excluded

¤ Who authorized or approved such an omission?

¤ What steps will be taken to immediately correct this injustice?

We strongly condemn this exclusion and demand an urgent review and rectification of the recruitment list to include Bassa Local Government Area alongside other LGAs in Kogi State. We equally request that the application portal be re-opened or extended to allow eligible candidates from Bassa LGA to apply.

Your Excellency, we trust that under your leadership, the Federal Ministry of Interior will not allow any act of discrimination or marginalization to fester, especially in a recruitment process that should promote national unity and equal representation.

Please treat this matter with the urgency and justice it deserves. Our people deserve better.

Yours sincerely,

Joseph Emmanuel Yaba

President, Bassa-Nge Community Development Network (BNCDN)

Josephyaba@gmail.com