Group Criticises Recruitment In N’Delta Ministry

Host Communities in Nigeria producing oil and gas, Imo chapter, has picked  hole in the recent recruitment of junior workers by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.  In a three-page petition to the ministry in Abuja, which was made available to newsmen in Owerri, the group alleged that the exercise was lopsided and favoured non-oil bearing communities.

In the petition signed by Chief Jenarius Ezeru and Mr Ndubueze Nwokoma, Chairman and Secretary, respectively, the group alleged that the recruitment favoured non-oil bearing areas. It alleged that applicants from oil and gas bearing communities were marginalised in the recruitment exercise, which it described as “ugly and unacceptable to us”. 

It expressed regret that the recruitment process did not observe equity and fairness, adding that “this is not in line with the vision and aspiration of the government”. 

Naming BonBeco (Worldwide) Company and E&A Security Services Ltd. as handlers of the recruitment, the group said that it would not accept anything less than 60 per cent in future employment by the ministry.

“The oil bearing communities are saying that they are entitled to a fair share of these recruitments at all times and all levels,” it stressed.  The group also demanded that the state coordinator, consultants and contractors of the ministry in the state “must come from the host communities”. 

It urged the ministry not to undermine the objectives of the Federal Government’s amnesty programme, its policy on manpower and the overall development of the Niger Delta region. 

“Let us encourage peace and development of our dear nation,” it stated, adding that efforts should be made “to gainfully engage our youths in order to avert problems emanating from idleness”. 

Attempts to get the reaction of the Coordinator of the ministry in the state, Mr Sam Uzoukwu, on the matter were unsuccessful.