THE presidency has been alerted to a growing practice of
money for employment in federal para-military agencies as some youth leaders
have dispatched detailed petition to President Goodluck Jonathan over the
development.
money for employment in federal para-military agencies as some youth leaders
have dispatched detailed petition to President Goodluck Jonathan over the
development.
The revelation was made at the national roundtable on
Nigeria’s Independence celebration, attended by over 40 youth leaders in Abuja
and hosted by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and
Student Matters, Mr Jude Imagwe, who vowed to report the matter to the
president.
Nigeria’s Independence celebration, attended by over 40 youth leaders in Abuja
and hosted by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and
Student Matters, Mr Jude Imagwe, who vowed to report the matter to the
president.
Various youth leaders at the event were making
contributions on the way forward for the nation until the coordinator for Youth
Coalition Against Corruption, Mr Greg Asali, alerted the gathering to a
practice in many federal agencies, declaring that “unemployed graduates
are being levied huge sums of money for job in many agencies.”
Asali told the gathering that various sums of money are
collected from job seekers, especially in the para-military agencies as well as
some other federal parastatals, pointing out that he has exact figures of money
collected for job in each of the agencies.
collected from job seekers, especially in the para-military agencies as well as
some other federal parastatals, pointing out that he has exact figures of money
collected for job in each of the agencies.
The youth leader listed the para-military agencies and
the amount they demand as follows: Immigration Service -N500,000; Customs
Service – N500,000; Police Service -N400,000; Prisons Service -N300,000 and the
Civil Defence Corps, N300, 000.
the amount they demand as follows: Immigration Service -N500,000; Customs
Service – N500,000; Police Service -N400,000; Prisons Service -N300,000 and the
Civil Defence Corps, N300, 000.
The angry youth leader told the gathering that many well-to-do
job seekers even pay more than the amount to get the job and that many
unemployed from poor families are denied of opportunities even when they are
qualified.
job seekers even pay more than the amount to get the job and that many
unemployed from poor families are denied of opportunities even when they are
qualified.
Worried by the youth leader’s claim, the presidential
aide asked for clarification on the volatile statement and other youth leaders
in the hall came out to give details of their own experiences on the subject
matter.
aide asked for clarification on the volatile statement and other youth leaders
in the hall came out to give details of their own experiences on the subject
matter.
Asali noted further that the practice was pushing many
unemployed graduates to the edge, urging the presidential aide to take the
matter directly to the president.
unemployed graduates to the edge, urging the presidential aide to take the
matter directly to the president.
The youth leader noted that in some agencies, job
seekers who cannot raise money are made to sign bond to forfeit three-month
salaries if and when the job is offered to them.
seekers who cannot raise money are made to sign bond to forfeit three-month
salaries if and when the job is offered to them.
He stated that strong syndicates operate across the said
agencies that smoothly run the operations with those who pay getting the job
and those who fail to pay losing out in the employment processes.
agencies that smoothly run the operations with those who pay getting the job
and those who fail to pay losing out in the employment processes.
“Please help us tell Mr President to stop these cabals
and throw open the employment process. Little spaces available should not be
sold to the children of the rich,” Asali pleaded.
and throw open the employment process. Little spaces available should not be
sold to the children of the rich,” Asali pleaded.
Commenting on Mr Asali‘s submission, Imagwe expressed
shock and disbelief at the disclosure and affirmed that the presidency is not
aware of such activities in such agencies.
shock and disbelief at the disclosure and affirmed that the presidency is not
aware of such activities in such agencies.
“President Jonathan is a due process leader and he will
not condone any agency indulging in such practices. I will compile a full
report and I believe the matter will be duly investigated and acted upon,”
Imagwe said.
not condone any agency indulging in such practices. I will compile a full
report and I believe the matter will be duly investigated and acted upon,”
Imagwe said.
It will be recalled that for some time now, allegations
of money for job had been rife in Abuja. It was learnt that the syndicates
operate easily because vacancies in many federal agencies are no longer
declared publicly as slots are allegedly shared among key public elected and
appointed public officials.
of money for job had been rife in Abuja. It was learnt that the syndicates
operate easily because vacancies in many federal agencies are no longer
declared publicly as slots are allegedly shared among key public elected and
appointed public officials.
The National Assembly had recently questioned employment
of 6,000 new employees by the Civil Defence Corps without advertisement but the
matter was not pursued further.
of 6,000 new employees by the Civil Defence Corps without advertisement but the
matter was not pursued further.
Calls to affected agencies for clarifications were not
returned and in one agency, an official declined comment due to the sensitivity
of the matter.
returned and in one agency, an official declined comment due to the sensitivity
of the matter.
HIGHLIGHTS
Immigration Service
N500,000
N500,000
Customs Service N500,000
Prisons Service
N300,000
N300,000
Civil Defence N300, 000
Source:
Tribune
Tribune
