The Bayelsa State Civil Service Commission Monday said it received 23,000 applications for 1000 job vacancies declared by the state government.
The state Governor, Seriake Dickson, lifted an embargo on employment and directed the commission to recruit 1000 workers following the outcome of the ongoing public service reforms in the state.
The Chairman of the commission in Yenagoa, the state capital, Dr. Peter Singabele, said in obedience to Dickson’s directive, the commission activated “a transparent recruitment process”.
Speaking at the launching of the state civil service website, Singabele said the web portal was established to ensure transparency and give all applicants equal opportunities.
He said the creation of the website became imperative after about 23,000 applicants surged to the office to pick forms for the 1000 job openings.
“Over 23,000 unemployed youths invaded the office of the commission and almost broke down the building. But with the website, they don’t need to come here. They only need to send their applications online”, he said.
He said the creation of the website was part of the brainchild of the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson describing the initiative as “very important”.
He said the launching of the website would restore the confidence of the people and stop the speculations that the government was out to deceive them adding that it would help all applicants to check and monitor the recruitment process.
Giving the breakdown of the job applications contained in the commission’s technical report, the Commissioner III, Chief Kune Igoni-Claudius, said out of 23,000 applicants, 12,335 were cleared by the commission.
He said those selected would participate in the job evaluation test and interviews adding that the timetable for the events would be uploaded in the website.
Explaining further, Igoni-Claudius, said out of the 12,335 cleared applicants, Sagbama Local Government Area has the highest number of 2170 while Nembe has the lowest of 993.
Others are Brass 1187; Ekeremor 1500; Kolokuma/Opokuma, 1230; Ogbia, 1417; Southern Ijaw, 2025 and Yenagoa, 1,812.
He said the commission set up an examination body comprising sensors drawn from various ministries, departments and agencies adding that the timetable for the written examination would commence on August 21.
He thanked Dickson for actualising the aim of the ongoing public sector reforms by lifting an embargo on employment.
In his remarks, Iworiso-Markson, commended the commission’s initiative and said the government had made it clear that the recruitment process would not be business as usual.
He said the process must be transparent and competitive to evolve an efficient civil service system noting that it must be so transparent that persons who failed to make it would have no reason to complain.
He said: “There will be no hidden employment because the process will be made open and transparent. We want to give everybody equal opportunities and a sense of belonging”.
Iworiso-Markson also said the governor was desirous of creating more employment opportunities.
Launching the website, the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) said the initiative was aimed at empowering the people.
He said the website would complement the ongoing automation of the civil service adding that other ministries would benefit from the portal.
