Lift embargo on employment now – Reps tell Tinubu

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives yesterday asked the President Ahmed Tinubu to lift embargo on employment in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government to allow for recruitment of young Nigerians to fill existing vacancies.

The House resolution followed motion by Hon Francis Ejiroghene Waive, on the need for the House asked the Federal Civil Service Commission and such relevant bodies to immediately act on Mr President’s directive in this regard.

He said “Recalled that the immediate past Administration amid the recession that hit the economy in the country due to the huge drop in the international price of crude oil at the time and COVID-19 pandemic placed an embargo on employment in Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.

He also recalled that the Ninth House of Representatives had passed a resolution calling on the then President to lift the embargo on employment.

According to him, there are reports in the social media that the embargo had been lifted, while there is no evidence of any employment taking place whatsoever.

He said that for several years, there has not been any employment in the Civil Service of the Federation, thereby creating a shortage of manpower, especially in the junior and middle-level cadre as officers are promoted and some retire and others die.

Hon. Waive said the withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products has increased the hardship of jobless Nigerian youths and appreciates the measures planned by the President to alleviate the suffering of the masses.

He said lifting of the embargo on employment and going ahead to employ young qualified Nigerians should be a part of Mr. President’s rescue measures as some of the savings from the removal of the subsidy could be used in this direction.