The government of Ebonyi State in an advert published on 14 September for their Judicial Service Commission listed 14 vacancies only available to candidates of Ebonyi State origin. The brazen illegality of a body that is meant to support the dispensation of justice in the state would be shocking in any other circumstances apart from in Nigeria.
Naijiant.com has stated previously that it is unconstitutional to deny Nigerians opportunities on grounds of state of origin.
Chapter 4 (Fundamental Rights), of the constitution is quite clear:
42. (1) A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person:
(a) be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject; or
(b) be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions.
(2) No citizen of Nigeria shall be subjected to any disability or deprivation merely by reason of the circumstances of his birth.
So any suitably qualified Nigerian should be able to apply for the advertised vacancies above, regardless of their state of origin and should not be restricted from doing so on such grounds. The advert is a clear example of official discrimination, made worse by the fact that it involves jobs in a judicial body.
The sad reality is that this illegality is accepted as “normal” in Nigeria. This is why it was published without any concerns by those behind it. As shown in the article above, Ebonyi State is sadly not the only state where this form of discrimination has become the norm and seen as acceptable.
