60,000 Applicants Jostle For 6,000 Jobs In Delta

• 21 Fake Certificate Holders Uncovered

No fewer than 60,000 applicants of the 25 local government areas of Delta are presently seeking employment in the recent 6,000 employment scheme initiated by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to alleviate unemployment in the state.
At a news briefing in Asaba on Wednesday, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Charles Aniagwu, said procedures have been worked out to pick the best among the applicants, adding that as the first of its kind, Okowa was eager to see it succeed.
Noting that the high rate of unemployment across the globe speaks volumes, the Chief Press Secretary however assured Deltans of the governor’s prosperity for all, warning rumour mongers to desist from such acts and rather join hands with the Okowa-led administration to succeed.
However, it was gathered that among the 60,000 applicants, 21 fake certificates holders were uncovered by the screening committee.
Commissioner for Water Resources, Sir Francis Tilije in his contributions, said the state government was determined to succeed, adding: “We have put in place screening methods, the applicants will write exams, attend oral interview, before we can pick the 6,000 persons needed for the jobs”.
He said that those with fake certificates were turned away, pointing out that the provision of the 6,000 jobs would be a test case for the present administration to showcase its prosperity for all Deltans.
On roads, the commissioner said the recent exco meeting approved the dualization of Nnebisi Road in Asaba and others, stressing that the deplorable drainage systems would soon be tackled.
While Tilije said that three schools in the rural communities of the state were being renovated, the commissioner dispelled allegations of bribe takings and other related acts during the issuance of the employment forms as untrue, saying that the long arm of the law would catch up with those perpetrating frauds in the state.
Unconfirmed sources said forms for the employment had allegedly been on sale by traditional rulers across the 25 local government areas, with applicants allegedly forced to pay N5,000.
But the commissioner condemned the act as ploy to tarnish the image of the state.