The Federal Character Commission, FCC, has expressed concerns over the low turnout of shortlisted applicants for the ongoing recruitment screening exercise of the Nigerian Army.

The FCC Commissioner in Oyo State, Prince Ayodeji Abass Aleshinloye, at a monitoring exercise, frowned at, what he described as, a nonchalant attitude displayed by most Oyo applicants.

According to him, out of the 941 candidates, which he claimed is grossly inadequate for Oyo State, shortlisted for the screening exercise, only 472 reported for screening.

The Commissioner advised applicants, whose documents require corrections or updates, to urgently take the necessary steps to regularize them.

He encouraged such candidates to liaise with their parents and guardians to obtain the required original documents, noting that many applicants arrived at the screening venue without complete documentation.

Aleshinloye revealed that more than half of the shortlisted candidates failed to present their original credentials, while several others had discrepancies in their documents that required adjustments.

He warned that failure to provide the necessary documents could lead to disqualification from the exercise.

He further called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, local government chairmen, and community stakeholders to help disseminate information about the recruitment exercise to the grassroots and most especially the subsequent exercises ensuring that youths do not miss out on available opportunities.

Reiterating his commitment to the core principles of the Federal Character Commission, Aleshinloye stressed the importance of fairness, equity, and inclusiveness in federal recruitment processes.

He noted that while government agencies strive to ensure equal opportunities for all states and groups, applicants must also fulfill their own responsibilities by complying with screening requirements.