Akwa Ibom : Over 15,000 scramble for 3,000 civil service jobs

More than 15,000 job seekers have applied for 3,000 positions recently announced by the Akwa Ibom State Government.

Governor Pastor Umo Eno disclosed the figures in Uyo during the state’s monthly prayer service, assuring that the recruitment would be strictly on merit.

“There are no slots, and there is no favouritism,” Eno said, adding that applicants would undergo a computer-based test designed to deliver instant results.

Past recruitment drives in the state have drawn criticism over alleged favoritism and lack of transparency, raising anxiety among candidates.

When the government unveiled plans for the exercise, it revealed that 1,000 workers each would be hired into the teaching cadre, the health sector, and the core civil service.

Unemployment remains a pressing concern in Akwa Ibom, with the National Bureau of Statistics putting the jobless rate at 34.9 percent in its 2023 report. A separate study indicated that over half of the state’s youths are out of work.

In response, the state has rolled out initiatives such as the ARISE Youth Employment Portal, the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Program, and other empowerment schemes to help curb joblessness.