Rivers Civil Service And Graduate Unemployment

The Rivers State Civil Service, which was supposed to be one of the proper places for the absorption of youths of the state with university degrees or their equivalent, is now a haven for non-indigenes, most of whom are first school leaving certificate holders. A look at the state civil service today, shows a disconcerting scenario, where the number of first school certificate holders can be better imagined. The picture before us now is pitiable, most especially because of the fact that the number of youths from the state who are already graduates is rising by the day. Indeed, it is no news today that those with elementary six school certificates far outweigh the graduates of the state origin in the state service. In most of the ministries, departments, agencies and parastatals, the bulk of the people who do the top level jobs, and occupy the most sensitive and lucrative positions, wielding powers, are non-indigenes. But one irony of the situation is that these people found their way into the service with the assistance of wealthy politicians, traditional rulers and other top Rivers men and women, who should pointedly be the anchors for the fight against this malaise. Even among the few indigenes in the service, a good number of them possess low-level qualifications that can hardly compete in the ever-demanding and competitive work environment. While graduates roam the street in search of job. Why the reverse? Thus, their job descriptions leave them with subordinate responsibilities. In this circumstance, the issues of respect, integrity, commitment and dedication to duty continue to foist the state. But at a time when a lot of Rivers people are now graduates, what is the problem with the effort to replace this crop of people with young graduates from the state? Well, in the past, people with elementary six school certificates were employed from the state and even neighouring states who came in to drive the public service and make things happen for the people. They were regarded and respected then, and as a result, most of them climbed to senior positions in the ministries and parastatal agencies and departments. But today, the fate of such people is at stake as demand for university graduates and employment of real Rivers youths in the face of increasing restiveness and violence mounts. In fact, the government has gone even further by causing the House of Assembly to pass the state Employment Law, aimed at compelling companies operating in the state to engage low-skilled Rivers youths, as well as the graduates in meaningful employment. A survey of the employment situation in the state indicates that, apart from the private sector, the civil service is one of the institutions of society that has been hijacked by non-indigenes. And the worst of this problem is the fact that a number of these persons possess only first school leaving certificates, and have displaced Rivers youths who are better qualified, with university degrees. One continues to wonder what criteria those at the helm of affairs of the ministries, government departments, agencies and parastatals used to employ required manpower, who should offer the best to the state. Some of the graduates in the service, who may have wanted to put in their best to make the system work more effectively have seemingly realised that they have been short-changed. Thus, they have naturally devised different means of slowing down delivery of services by strategically undermining their innovative and ingenious skills, competences and knowledge. This has resulted in a major crisis of disaffection in the service. The spur given by some civil servants to their children to seek employment in the civil service for the fact that they are members of the senior staff cadre, has been negatively impacted by this development. The reason for this being that the youths no longer see their qualification as relevant in securing them gainful employment in the public service as a result of the prevailing situation where elementary six certificate holders hold sway in the government service. This in effect threatens their future. And the government needs to realise this. Therefore, proper standards need to be set by government for employment into the ministries. The youths need to be given a sense of belonging by reassuring them that they have a place in the ministries departments, and agencies to eke out a living after graduation. Once this assurance is made and guaranteed, then it is possible that the spate of restiveness and violence in the land would reduce for the better. Perhaps, there is nothing to blame for the current crisis in the Niger Delta region, than youth unemployment. It has lead to large scale criminality and other vices. The level of unemployment, poverty and attendant issues is traceable to the growing neglect of the past. The spectre of kidnapping, hostage taking, armed robbery, gangsterism, prostitution, and the other anti-social behaviours that plague our society point to a state, and of course, a nation adrift. No society can flourish amid these misdemeanors! So, where does this lead us to? The Amaechi-led government has emphasised its resolve to open up the work space to take in more youths who have been idle over the years. By so doing the government would have addressed one of the fundamental problems of our time – unemployment. Another strategy, and most important too, would be to engage more hands in the civil service through the various service commissions in the state. These include the State Civil Service Commission, Local Government Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission, Assembly Service Commission, as well as the numerous aggressive recruitment plans of the federal government through the military, paramilitary, civil service and other public service windows in compliance with the Federal Character Commission guidelines. If all these take the dare situation in the state into cognisance, then the employment problem in the state, and the daunting social crisis that has threatened peace and development, will reduce to the barest minimum. Nwikhana, a civil servant, resides in Port Harcourt.

Susan Lekara Nwikhana