…Applicants assured of merit-based hiring
By Violet Obamwonyi and Gloria Agbongiasede
The Edo State Government has commenced Computer-based Test (CBT) for applicants into the State’s public service.
The two-day exercise scheduled for Thursday 6th and Friday 7th October will be screening a thousand (1,000) shortlisted applicants for various job openings in the State’s public service.
The CBT examination which currently holds at the Edo State Information and Communications Technology Agency (ICTA) office in Block D, Edo State Secretariat Complex, Benin City, bears testament to Government’s determination to strengthen the State’s public service with quality and efficient workforce, and its commitment towards ensuring merit-based hiring in the public service.
The Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has constantly reiterated his stance on merit-hiring, as recruitment exercises into the State’s civil and public service since the advent of his administration have been conducted in a transparent manner.
This, the Governor has considered a core aspect of the current reforms in the State’s public service, which has brought unprecedented cultural and behavioral changes to the public service.
Addressing journalists at the State’s Secretariat Complex, Ms. Amina Salawe, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Edo State Civil and Public Service Transformation and Enhancement Program (EdoSTEP), Office of the Head of Service, who doubles as Coordinator of the recruitment exercise team, noted that the exercise is free from any form of bias, as her team has done a thorough job from the advertisement placement, selection and eventual shortlisting of applicants who were seen participating in the screening exercise for the CBT examination.
According to Salawe, “For today, we have one thousand applicants in five batches, that is, 200 applicants per batch. Like the Governor has said, a part of his focus is to provide jobs for youngsters in the State, and the process has been free and fair and will be till the end.
“So there are no cutting corners anymore. It is not business as usual. A new trend has been incorporated by the current administration. As you can see, shortlisted applicants are currently undergoing screening. As soon as they finish, they will go up to the ICTA for their examination, and those that scale through would be hired, irrespective of their background or political affiliations. You know this Government is not a place you pay to get marks, if you merit it, you get it.”
Speaking during the exercise, Mr. Daniel Mitohta, an applicant, opined that the exercise has been transparent, as his name appearing among the shortlisted candidates was without any undue influence.
Mitohta said: “I would rate this recruitment process very highly because the interval between when we applied and was called for the CBT examination was very short. And the arrangement in terms of the organization put in place by the recruitment team since we got here since morning has been top-notch.”
“I would say from my own personal experience that everything has been free and fair. I do not know anyone in any political position, and my name making it to the list was not influenced in any way. I just applied and got a mail. I have not paid anyone a dime and I am hoping the process continues till the list of successful applicants who made it come out”, Mitohta added.
Another applicant, Mr. Godwin Adaghebalu Abhulimhen, while responding to questions from journalists, noted: “The recruitment exercise has been free and fair so far, because no one submitted my name on my behalf. And when I saw my name on the list, I could not hide my excitement. I would really like to thank and commend the Edo State Government as per series of employments that have been carried out in the State. I mean before this administration, I cannot even remember the last time recruitment was done for a State government job. Most civil servants I know were employed years ago and most of them are even old now”.
Miss Judith Egualemonan Edujie whose name also appeared among the shortlisted applicants and who was present for the CBT exercise also commended the State Government and the recruitment team for making the recruitment process easy, straightforward and seamless.
Recall that the Edo State Civil Service Commission recently issued a statement on the commencement of a massive recruitment of professionals into the State’s civil service.
The Civil Service Commission’s Chairman, Princess Ekiuwa Inneh, in the statement, assured all applicants that the recruitment exercise would be fair and transparent as the current administration strongly favors merit-based hiring.
She also emphasized that Edo State Government does not require applicants to make any payment to any person or organization as equal opportunity is guaranteed for all applicants, for a free, fair and merit-driven recruitment exercise.
There has been a series of recruitment exercises into the State’s civil and public service since the advent of the Obaseki administration; exercises geared towards strengthening the workforce in the State with quality hands and professionals as part of the State Government’s transformation initiative for the civil and public service.
