Rivers State Government Approves Recruitment of 10,000 Graduates and Non-Graduates into the Civil Service

The Rivers State Government, under the leadership of retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has approved the recruitment of 10,000 qualified graduates and non-graduates for employment into the state’s civil service.

The action is in line with the administration’s plan to strengthen the state’s workforce and increase service delivery in various sectors.

The recruitment process will see jobs being established in various departments of the state civil service, with a very sharp focus on inclusivity and ensuring individuals from diverse backgrounds are given an opportunity to serve.

The new positions will be spread out in key sectors, including education, health, the judiciary, and the mainstream civil service.

Breakdown of the Recruitment:
• General Stream Civil Service: 7,500 positions will be available for a variety of administrative and support roles in the civil service.
• Primary Schools Board: 1,000 positions are available for teachers to streamline the education system at the primary level.
• Post-Primary Schools Board: Another 1,000 teaching positions will be available to cater to deficiencies in secondary schools.
• Judicial Service Commission: 250 legal officer posts will be created to support the judicial arm of the state government.
• Health Management Board: 200 health professional vacancies, including doctors and other medical staff, will be filled to enhance the healthcare system in the state.

The sanctioning of the recruitment is a great step in addressing the needs of the different sectors that require additional personnel to function effectively. The recruitment would also provide jobs for thousands of Rivers State residents, thereby reducing the unemployment rate and providing opportunities to professionals and non-graduates alike.

However, the recruitment exercise has not been without controversy. Ever since Governor Siminalayi Fubara came into office in May 2023, there have been questions regarding the transparency and fairness of the recruitment exercise that was carried out by the previous administration under Governor Nyesom Wike.

It was claimed that a majority of the slots had been filled based on political patronage, and some of the persons appointed were reportedly over-aged for public service jobs.

Upon these concerns, Governor Fubara revoked the employment of the 10,000 civil service jobs approved by his predecessor. The Fubara administration had pledged to initiate a new recruitment process that is transparent to provide jobs on the basis of merit, not political affiliations.

The governor’s move is seen as a commitment to good governance and reconstruction of confidence in the recruitment process, aimed at having public service positions filled by qualified and dedicated personnel.

Governor Fubara’s action to nullify the recruitment process that had previously been initiated and to instruct a new recruitment process is a clear indication of his administration’s desire to restructure the civil service and get it to function in the overriding interest of the people of Rivers State. The new recruitment process, when conducted, is expected to be more transparent, merit-based, and inclusive of all, with equal opportunity for all eligible applicants in the state.

The approval to hire 10,000 new civil servants will impact positively on some of the key sectors, including education, health, and the judiciary, which in turn will benefit the development of the state. As the new recruitment exercise begins, all eyes will be focused on the mechanism put in place to promote fairness, transparency, and accountability so that the civil service can become a model for good governance in Nigeria.