A group of unemployed graduates in Yobe State has expressed concern over the state's employment process, alleging that political patronage and connections to influential individuals have become crucial factors in securing government jobs. The graduates, who have spent several years without employment despite completing their studies and the mandatory National Youth Service Corps programme, claim that qualified applicants without connections to government officials or influential figures often struggle to secure appointments. They have called for a transparent and fair recruitment process.
One of the graduates, Hassan Umar Gadaka, a graduate of the College of Administration, Management and Technology, said he graduated about four years ago and had completed the mandatory NYSC programme but was yet to secure a government job. Gadaka disclosed that his tailoring skills had become his major source of livelihood while he continued to search for employment. He urged the government to make vacancies public and allow qualified applicants to compete through an open recruitment process, stressing that they were not asking for automatic employment but a fair opportunity.
Another graduate, Yahaya Badamasi, who holds a master's degree from Ahmadu Bello University, said he had more than 20 years of teaching experience but was yet to secure government employment. Badamasi insisted that the recruitment process should give qualified applicants an opportunity to compete, adding that in Yobe, one had to know someone before getting a job. He urged the government to clearly communicate available vacancies and requirements to applicants, enabling people with the necessary qualifications and experience to participate in the process without relying on personal connections.
Ibrahim Adamu, a graduate of the University of Maiduguri, said he graduated more than 10 years ago but was yet to be employed by the state government, attributing this to his lack of influential connections. Adamu called on the government to make recruitment open, announcing vacancies, stating requirements, and allowing qualified people to apply. He also suggested that the government publish available vacancies in national dailies, giving graduates across the state equal access to information about recruitment opportunities.
The graduates appealed to the state government to regularly advertise vacancies in national dailies and on official platforms, providing applicants with timely information about available positions. They also urged the government to make recruitment criteria clear, providing information on positions available, application procedures, and required qualifications. By doing so, eligible applicants could prepare and submit their applications based on clearly stated requirements.
When contacted, the Head of Information, Office of the Head of Service, Alhassan Sule Mamudo, debunked the allegations, insisting that the state government was transparent in its appointment process and did not base appointments solely on political patronage. Mamudo pointed out that the government was following the appropriate process in making appointments and was also considering vulnerable people, including orphans, where necessary.
Despite Mamudo's response, stakeholders claim that the government's transparency in the recruitment process remains a concern. The graduates' allegations that appointment slots were being shared based on political patronage have not been fully addressed. The stakeholders maintained that vacancies should be publicly announced, and only qualified applicants should be allowed to compete based on clearly stated requirements.
Key points
- Yobe State graduates allege that political patronage and connections to influential individuals are crucial factors in securing government jobs.
- The graduates are calling for a transparent and fair recruitment process, with publicly announced vacancies and clear requirements.
- The state government's transparency in the recruitment process has been questioned, with allegations that appointment slots are being shared based on political patronage.
