Non-submission of original school certificates may delay massive recruitment of Ebonyi citizens into the state civil service.

Governor Francis Nwifuru directed a competitive recruitment process to fill up 1,454 vacant public service positions.

Officials said the employment committee received 17,834 applications,  but only 30 percent (5,352 persons) attached their original certificates.

At the State Executive Council Meeting in Abakaliki yesterday, the Governor insisted that merit must rule the day.

The Cabinet however advised the committee to allow those with original to include them in their application and attend the interview.

The committee said in its recruitment portal that it plans to invite only qualified candidates via email for an interview.

Yesterday, Information and State Orientation Commissioner, Mr. Jude Okpor, explained at a press briefing that government directed the Committee to give opportunity for those with original certificates to submit them.

They will subsequently invite those who meet the deadline for interview, he affirmed.

“The Governor  emphasized that the recruitment should be merit-based so as to give all applicants equal opportunity to compete for the job,” Okpor.

Pensioners to smile

The Ebonyi State Government yesterday approved N3.8billion for 1,715 retirees from the State Civil Service.

The payments were to commence from yesterday, officials said.

The payment is for the period 1996 to 2021 as compiled by a Committee headed by Prof Adeline Idike.

The government approval was less than the N4.3billion bill presented by the committee.

Government spokesperson, Jude Okpor, explained that the Gratuity Committee and other government agencies vetted the figure.

Government pegged total eligible beneficiaries to 1,715 and calculated their benefits as N3,851,763,617.65.