The Federal Fire Service (FFS) has exposed a new dimension of job racketeering involving five individuals who fraudulently enrolled themselves into the Federal Government’s salary platform, the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), without genuine employment letters.

The Controller General of Fire, Engr. Abdulganiyu O. Jaji, made this known during a briefing where he emphasized the Service’s ongoing efforts to tackle employment-related fraud.

Issuing a stern caution, Jaji urged desperate job seekers to resist falling prey to scammers and warned against activities that could tarnish the Service’s reputation.

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“We meticulously cross-checked the original master list against the final documented list and IPPIS entries.

“Upon discovering the fraud, we quietly suspended the documentation process to outwit the perpetrators, who went ahead to print even more fake letters,” Jaji explained.

Investigations revealed that numerous applicants had recently stormed FFS documentation centers with counterfeit appointment letters, some of them claiming to have paid employment syndicates amounts ranging between N1 million and N3 million.

It was reported that these syndicates continue to exploit the desperation of job seekers despite repeated warnings.

The Controller General reiterated that the FFS does not authorize third parties to handle recruitment and that all processes remain open and transparent.

“Anyone caught presenting forged documents in a bid to secure employment will face immediate arrest and prosecution,” he warned.

Concerned about the emotional and financial trauma inflicted on victims, Jaji lamented that fraudulent activities were causing immense damage to the credibility of the Service.

He disclosed that the five individuals who managed to fraudulently insert their names into the payroll system were tracked, invited for interrogation, and confessed to being part of an underground syndicate.

Highlighting the Service’s commitment to transparency, Jaji reminded the public that all genuine recruitment exercises are conducted through recognized government platforms.

He cited the recent recruitment exercise coordinated by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), stating that successful candidates could only access their invitation letters via the official portal — cdcfib.career.

“Anyone claiming to have been invited for documentation but whose name does not appear on the official master list has undoubtedly fallen victim to fraudsters,” he emphasized.

Despite ongoing public awareness campaigns, Jaji expressed dismay at the persistent operations of fake websites and fraudulent agents.

He pointed out that even after the new Secretary of the CDCFIB assumed office, some applicants still presented forged documents bearing the name of the former Secretary.

“It is truly disheartening that job seekers who willingly engage with fraudsters later turn around to petition the Service when things go wrong,” he said.

To curb the menace, Jaji announced that the Service would begin arresting and publicly parading individuals who present fake appointment or invitation letters during documentation and screening exercises.

He further urged victims of job scams to cooperate by providing details such as account numbers, names, and phone numbers of the fraudsters involved, stating: “No credible government agency would issue invitation letters to successful candidates only to later cancel them. The Federal Fire Service has never and will never be involved in such misconduct.”

Appealing directly to Nigerian youths, Jaji called for patience and vigilance, assuring them of the government’s commitment to providing genuine opportunities.

“The Honourable Minister of Interior, a young man himself, is committed to ensuring that the efforts of our youths do not go to waste. Applicants must ignore suspicious links and unofficial websites and apply only through designated portals,” he advised.

He concluded with a strong warning: “No Federal Fire Service personnel should be patronized under any circumstance. Any candidate who does so will bear the consequences alone.”