Tension and uncertainty have continued to trail the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) recruitment exercise as concerned candidates shortlisted in 2025 have publicly demanded clarification over what they described as inconsistencies in the ongoing process.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, the affected candidates appealed to TRACE authorities and the Ogun State Government to urgently intervene and ensure fairness, transparency, and due process in the agency’s recruitment exercise.
The candidates expressed concern over the scheduled Computer-Based Test (CBT) examination fixed for May 14, 2026, alleging that many individuals who were officially shortlisted in 2025 were excluded from the latest invitation list released for the examination.
According to the statement signed by “Concerned Shortlisted Candidates, TRACE Recruitment 2025,” the development has generated anxiety and confusion among applicants who had patiently awaited further communication from the agency after the initial postponement of the screening exercise.
The candidates recalled that TRACE had publicly released a shortlist of successful applicants in 2025 for a recruitment screening exercise before the process was suspended.
They explained that the agency attributed the postponement to preparations for the National Sports Festival hosted by Ogun State under the administration of Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON.
The applicants stated that they accepted the postponement in good faith and remained hopeful that the process would eventually continue in a transparent and orderly manner.
However, they noted that the emergence of a fresh CBT invitation list that allegedly differs from the original shortlist has now raised serious concerns regarding the credibility and integrity of the recruitment exercise.
“We have discovered that the candidates invited for the CBT examination do not correspond with the names earlier shortlisted and published by TRACE in 2025,” the statement read.
The candidates also lamented that several applicants have been unable to verify their status because the official TRACE recruitment portal is currently inaccessible.
According to them, the inactive portal has further complicated the situation, leaving many affected candidates without any official information regarding their standing in the recruitment process.
In their appeal, the concerned applicants called on TRACE management to provide immediate clarification on the status of candidates shortlisted in 2025 and explain the criteria used in selecting those invited for the CBT examination.
They further urged the agency to ensure that the recruitment exercise strictly adheres to the principles of merit, fairness, transparency, and equal opportunity.
The candidates stressed that public confidence in government recruitment processes can only be sustained when transparency and accountability are upheld at every stage.
Despite their grievances, the applicants commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for his commitment to youth empowerment, employment generation, and good governance in Ogun State.
They expressed optimism that the governor’s administration would not allow any administrative irregularity within a government agency to tarnish its reputation or undermine public trust.
“We acknowledge and commend the unwavering commitment of His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, to youth empowerment and job creation in Ogun State,” the statement added. “It is our sincere hope that no administrative lapse within any agency will undermine the integrity and reputation of his administration.”
The candidates therefore appealed directly to the Controller General of TRACE to intervene urgently and guarantee a transparent recruitment process that would protect the interests of all legitimately shortlisted applicants.
They maintained that many Ogun youths have invested their hopes and trust in the present administration and deserve to be treated fairly throughout the recruitment exercise.
Observers said the controversy may attract wider public attention if the agency fails to promptly address the concerns raised by the affected candidates.
As of the time of filing this report, TRACE authorities had yet to issue an official response regarding the allegations surrounding the CBT invitation process and the status of the 2025 shortlisted candidates.
With the CBT examination scheduled to commence on May 14, many affected applicants are now anxiously awaiting official clarification from the agency and the Ogun State Government on the future of the recruitment exercise.
