BY: Oluwatoyin Hawal Momolosho
Claim:
A recruitment notice circulating online claims that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is recruiting Nigerians for the 2026/2027 session.
Verdict:
False!
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), which succeeded FIRS, says the recruitment notice is fraudulent and did not originate from the agency.
Full Text:
A recruitment notice circulating across social media and other online platforms claims that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is recruiting Nigerians for various positions.
The notice, titled “Federal Inland Revenue Service FIRS Job Vacancy – Replacement,” reportedly invites applicants to submit their CVs, applications and personal information through an email address provided in the advert.
It also advertises a purported 2026/2027 graduate recruitment opportunity and gives October 24, 2026 as the application deadline.
With unemployment remaining a major concern for many Nigerians, recruitment messages bearing the name of a federal agency can easily attract attention and gain traction online.
Verification:
FactCheckAfrica reviewed reports of the circulating notice and the response from the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), the agency that succeeded the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
On October 5, 2026, the NRS issued a public notice titled “Fraudulent Recruitment Notice”, warning Nigerians about the purported FIRS recruitment exercise.
The Service said the notice “is fraudulent and did not emanate from the Nigeria Revenue Service.”
The NRS further stated that it had not authorised or commenced the recruitment exercise referenced in the notice. It also said it had not appointed or authorised any individual, agent, consultant or third party to conduct recruitment on its behalf.
This directly contradicts the claim contained in the viral advert.
FIRS or NRS?
FactCheckAfrica also examined the name used in the purported recruitment notice. The advert refers to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). However, the NRS has reminded the public that FIRS has been succeeded by the Nigeria Revenue Service.
The Service consequently advised Nigerians to treat recruitment notices issued in the name of FIRS with caution and independently verify them before taking any action.
This does not mean that the NRS cannot recruit. Rather, it means that the specific recruitment exercise contained in the circulating FIRS-branded notice has not been authorised by the NRS.
What did the alleged advert ask applicants to do?
Reports on the circulating notice show that applicants were directed to submit their details, including application materials and identification documents, through an email address contained in the advert.
The NRS said applicants should not respond to the purported recruitment exercise. It specifically warned members of the public not to make payments or disclose personal or financial information, certificates or identification documents in response to the notice.
This warning is significant because fraudulent recruitment schemes can go beyond spreading false information. They can expose unsuspecting job seekers to financial loss or the collection of sensitive personal information.
How should genuine recruitment be verified?
The NRS said any legitimate recruitment exercise by the Service would be formally communicated through its official website and authorised communication channels.
It therefore urged Nigerians to independently verify recruitment information before responding to messages, adverts or links claiming to represent the agency.
This is especially important where an advert asks applicants to provide personal documents or communicate through an unverified address.
Similar recruitment claims have circulated before
Africa Check previously investigated a similar claim that FIRS was recruiting and found no evidence at the time that the agency was conducting the advertised recruitment exercise. The fact-checking organisation noted that FIRS had warned Nigerians about fraudulent recruitment messages.
FactCheckAfrica has also investigated similar fake recruitment claims involving other Nigerian public institutions. In September 2025, for example, it reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had disowned a viral recruitment advert directing applicants to a fake website.
These cases illustrate why the presence of a government agency’s name, logo or official-sounding language on a recruitment advert is not enough to establish its authenticity.
Conclusion:
The claim that FIRS is currently conducting the recruitment exercise advertised in the viral notice is false. The Nigeria Revenue Service has explicitly disowned the notice, describing it as fraudulent and stating that it did not authorise or commence the recruitment exercise.
Job seekers should therefore disregard the advert and verify any future recruitment announcement directly through the Nigeria Revenue Service’s official communication channels.
