Brazen Impunity: Nigerian Lawmaker, Miriam Odinaka Onuoha Publicly Celebrates Hijacking FIRS, TETFUND, National Assembly Service Commission Jobs For Constituents; Reveals How NASS Allocates Juicy Jobs To Cronies

Secrets Reporters

When Oluwadarasimi received an email from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) notifying her that she had qualified for the next stage of a recruitment process, her joy knew no bounds. A fresh graduate, full of hope and tenacity, she promptly uploaded her credentials as instructed. But to her surprise, another request came a week later, asking for the same credentials. Confused, but obedient, she uploaded them again.

Then came the cold shoulder.

A final message from the agency read: she had been disqualified for “failure to upload her credentials.” She was left stunned—questions hanging in the air, answers nowhere in sight. Like many young Nigerians chasing the elusive dream of federal employment, Oluwadarasimi had walked into a system that often favours connection over competence.

“Secured Federal Employment for Constituents”

On June 21st 2025, a federal lawmaker, Hon. Miriam Odinaka Onuoha, representing Okigwe North federal constituency of Imo State, publicly announced on her verified X handle that she had “secured federal employment” for some of her constituents into the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND). Photographs of smiling beneficiaries standing beside the lawmaker were also shared.

Her post did not raise eyebrows in isolation, but it stirred murmurs in the minds of many, especially those like Oluwadarasimi. Reacting to Onuoha’s post on X, several users wondered that if federal job slots are being distributed through lawmakers, “what then happens to those who apply through official recruitment portals?”

Crunching the Numbers

Nigeria’s National Assembly consists of 360 House of Representatives members and 109 Senators. That makes a total of 469 lawmakers. If each of them secures just three employment slots across major government agencies, that’s 1,407 positions quietly filled—no adverts, no tests, no interviews—just handed out.

Add the 45 serving ministers, and the number grows to 1,542. These figures don’t include influential political aides, governors, or party stalwarts who also wield unofficial access to employment slots in agencies like the CBN, FIRS, NNPC, and TETFUND.

A Look at the Constitution

The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) outlines the powers and responsibilities of lawmakers under Sections 4 and 88. Lawmakers are empowered to make laws and conduct oversight functions on the executive arm. Nowhere does the Constitution explicitly grant legislators the right to nominate or secure federal jobs for their constituents.

Federal employment, according to civil service regulations and public service rules, is to be handled by recruitment boards and commissions, including the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), in line with federal character principles enshrined in Section 14(3) of the Constitution. This provision mandates equitable distribution of positions among all the states to prevent the dominance of any group or region.

While lawmakers are permitted to recommend candidates or advocate for inclusion—especially for constituents facing hardship—such recommendations are not binding, and certainly not constitutionally mandated.

The Silent Allotments

Despite this, anecdotal evidence and sporadic posts—like Onuoha’s—suggest that slots are routinely allotted to lawmakers in backdoor arrangements. These slots often fall under the radar, bypassing open recruitment.

The actual process remains hazy, shrouded in what many call Nigeria’s “informal quota system.” These are not publicized. No guidelines are issued. There is no oversight. The only consistent pattern is that well-connected individuals tend to get ahead while the rest, like Oluwadarasimi, are left to chase shadows.

The Other Side of the Coin

Some lawmakers argue that helping their constituents secure jobs is a legitimate form of representation. “If I can’t help the people who voted me in, then what am I doing in office?” one unnamed House member told a national newspaper in a past interview.

To them, channeling job opportunities to their districts is a way of “bringing the dividends of democracy” home. But critics say this approach undermines equity and rewards proximity to power rather than merit.

A Brewing Crisis of Trust

As more public agencies open portals for recruitment—often with rigorous processes involving CBT tests and document verification—the parallel system of handpicked beneficiaries risks eroding public trust.

“I studied hard, passed the tests, and got shortlisted,” says another applicant, Bako Musa, from Kaduna. “But then, silence. No feedback. Nothing. Later, I found out that names had been submitted by politicians.”

Where Is the Oversight?

The absence of a clear legal framework governing lawmaker involvement in recruitment opens a grey area where influence thrives unchecked. The Federal Character Commission (FCC), which is meant to ensure equitable distribution of public posts, rarely speaks on such matters, and questions about how these job slots are allocated go largely unanswered.