No fewer than 450,000 Nigerians have reportedly applied for fewer than 10,000 vacancies in the latest Federal Government recruitment exercise, signaling the deepening unemployment crisis and high demand for public sector employment across the country.
The recruitment drive, which was announced by the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) in January 2025, opened opportunities for employment into various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) under the Federal Civil Service. A nationwide advertorial, signed by the Director of Recruitment and Appointment, Mr. Ogaba Ede, listed more than 70 vacant roles cutting across diverse professional fields.
Positions advertised ranged from Administrative Officer, Programme Analyst, and Procurement Officer, to highly technical roles like Biomedical Engineer, Radiographer, and Senior Computer Engineer. Others included roles such as Dentist, Population Programme Officer, Fisheries Officer, Medical Laboratory Scientist, and Geologist. The Federal Government also sought specialists like Psychologists, Education Officers, Statisticians, Nursing Officers, Cultural Officers, and Foreign Affairs Officers, among others.
The recruitment portal was officially opened to eligible Nigerians earlier this year, with an initial application deadline of March 10, 2025. However, following widespread complaints and reports of technical difficulties in accessing the application site, the commission extended the deadline by a week, pushing the final date to March 17, 2025.
Despite the high number of interested applicants, a senior official of the commission who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed that the number of vacancies available is significantly lower than the applicant pool. “Over 450,000 people submitted applications, but the actual number of available positions is less than 10,000,” the source disclosed.
As part of the selection process, only shortlisted candidates will be invited to sit for a Computer-Based Test (CBT), which will be conducted in their respective states. The official noted that applicants who do not receive an invitation should consider themselves not shortlisted. “There will be no rescheduling for the CBT, and candidates will be able to view their results immediately after completing the examination,” he added.
While the FCSC has yet to officially publish the list of shortlisted candidates, the Head of Press and Public Relations of the Commission, Mr. Taiwo Hassan, stated that an official announcement will be made in due time. He urged applicants to remain patient and await further directives from the commission.
The overwhelming response to the Federal Government’s call for applications underscores the growing desperation among Nigerians seeking employment in a challenging economic climate. With youth unemployment still a pressing national concern, the scramble for civil service jobs has once again brought to the fore the urgent need for sustainable job creation and economic reforms.
Leave feedback about this