-As Applicants Slam Govt Over Lack of Transparency In Recruitment Process
The Head of Civil Service for Akwa Ibom State, Mrs Elsie Peters, is liable for prosecution after publicly announcing unapproved figures on recruitment exercises by the state government, an action that contravenes the Statistical Law of the state.
Mrs Peters, while speaking on Monday, September 14, during a press briefing to flag-off the 2026 Public Service Week, disclosed that the current administration of Governor Umo Eno has so far recruited a total of 7,069 people into the state civil service, a figure she said she got from her personal calculation.
“So far, from when the Governor came on board till now, I sat down by myself to do a bit of statistics. I’m not a statistician, but just common sense; to take a hard look at the total figure. And I can tell you very strongly today, His Excellency has recruited a total of 7,069 so far recorded personnel into the workforce. I have my breakdown here, and I’m going to read it to you.
“4,000 personnel approved in 2025. Out of this 4,000, 1,000 was for secondary school teachers; 900 was for State Secondary Education Board teachers and then 100 for technical teachers, that’s 1,000. Out of that same 4,000, we have 2,000 alone going to the medical sector, and then we have about 1,000, going to the mainstream. That’s 4,000.
“The governor has approved the recruitment of 1,000 primary school teachers to SUBEB. In 2025, he approved recruitment of 1,000 personnel for the judiciary. That recruitment exercise is ongoing.
“In 2025, he approved the recruitment of 100 occupational safety officers, and 25 legal officers for the Ministry of Justice, 95 volunteers for the AKISAMSAS, 5 trained personnel for the Senior Citizens Home.
“Recently, he approved the recruitment of 7 persons to work at the recently commissioned Youth Development Centre in Oron; recruitment of 45 house officers for the medical sector, and recruitment of 40 intern pharmacists.
“He also ordered the recruitment of 27 Divine Care Home caregivers. You recall that in 2025, His Excellency spent his birthday at the Divine Care Home and made a pronouncement that those caregivers, those women, should be recruited into the state civil service. That exercise was done and completed; they are 27 in number.
“I have here recruitment of 120 contract medical officers/consultants. I have 404 contract nurses/tutors. I have 30 contract radiographers, medical lab scientists/pharmacists.
“Still that same 2025, His Excellency had a function at the Unity Park where he inspected some cabins erected by some MDAs. And then he met the Ministry of Women Affairs who showcased their own cabin there, and then there were some children from that home, the government children home along IBB Way. And it was shocking to His Excellency to know that there were one or two, a few, people who have been sponsored by the state government and they have gone to school and graduated. He immediately pronounced that one Abigail should be recruited immediately into the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service, because she has been in that home from when she was a baby until she’s grown, gone to school, still at that children’s home.
“And then finally, the recruitment of 170 watchmen into the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service. All of this breakdown I have done gives us a total of 7,069 personnel”, she announced.
But investigations by the Guide Newspaper reveal that the figures announced by the Head of Civil Service are not officially documented or approved by the State Bureau of Statistics as she admitted that they were from her personal calculation with “common sense”. This action contravenes the statistical law of Akwa Ibom State which requires anyone collecting or sharing official state data to get written approval from the Statistician-General of the State.
In August, the State Statistician General, Mr Uduak Isaac, while speaking at the Humanitarian Stakeholders’ Roundtable in Uyo, had warned that anyone who fakes data or disseminates data that was not approved by the State Bureau of Statistics, will be prosecuted in line with the law.
“That law is very explicit. And whosoever has something to do with Akwa Ibom State, either by way of survey or whatever statistics, please, must get clearance, a written approval from the Bureau”, Mr Isaac stated. “Please, don’t fake data that does not reflect Akwa Ibom State in order to secure grants. You will be prosecuted in accordance with the Statistical Law of 2023 of Akwa Ibom State as amended. I want everybody to be guided because there has been a lot of infiltration of information that does not represent Akwa Ibom State. His Excellency the Governor has done so much for this state. Therefore, Akwa Ibom State should not be misrepresented”.
He further emphasised, “So whosoever, whoever wants to collect or disseminate any data from Akwa Ibom State must get a written approval from the Office of the Statistician General of the State”.
Meanwhile, Mrs Peters announcement on recruitment has continued to generated several reactions with many applicants for the 2025 civil service have slammed the government over lack of transparency in the recruitment process.
One of the applicants, Eros Ubong, who took to social media, called on any applicant who has received their appointment letter to indicate, adding that with her excellent scores in both written and oral interviews, she deserved a job on merit.
“I merit this appointment, if it on merit. I scored 73 in the mock exam and 71 in the main written exams. I did very well in the oral interview because they were all impressed and clapping for me. They made comment like, “at least we have someone that understands the interview”. They should even post the score for the oral interview. I have never been a social media person and I don’t want to. This particular issue should not make one because I like my quiet life.
Another applicant, Thomas Sunday, said he was shocked to hear that the government had started issuing appointment letters when the list of successful candidates has not even been published, questioning the reason for adopting digital method for examination but not for publication of results.
“I was just shocked to hear such numbers and stats when none of us that completed all the stages of the state civil service recruitment so far haven’t received employment letter; not to mention the shortlist of the successful candidates to be given employment letters. A process deemed digital which started with application since July 2025 to CBT to invitation for oral interview based on above 50% CBT scores, to credentials screening, yet still, the process isn’t completed as at this moment; highly frustrating and disappointing to us.
“7069 approved for employment into the state civil service; we are supposed to hear 7069 duly and completely recruited. Yet still the number isn’t enough compared to the number of applicants and the population of unemployed graduates in the state.
“Our government can actually do better; our state can be better equipped with effective and competent workforce to drive the state forward. We are blessed and highly favoured state; all we need is people-oriented leadership in full flow and we will be fine as a state.
“That recruitment process has taken more time than ever expected thereby reducing the believe that the process remains transparent and merit based. We need a functional Akwa Ibom state in all ramifications.”
