President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, to disregard any purported request from government officials aimed at conferring undue advantage on anyone seeking jobs or other favours.
The President’s warning was contained in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, and signed by Segun Adeyemi, the Special Assistant to the President (Media) Office of the Minister of Information and Culture.
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The minister, speaking on the president’s directive, said that Buhari’s position followed persistent reports of fraudsters using the business cards and purported referral letters from presidential aides and other government officials to solicit employment, contract and other favours.
According to Mohammed, President Buhari also warned political appointees and other government officials against using their positions to ensure undue advantage on anyone seeking government jobs and other favours.
The President emphasised that such an act “is antithetical to the character of the Administration,” the minister added.
He stated:
The Administration has put in place a systematic and disciplined approach to ensure that the government runs smoothly for all Nigerians, whether in the area of employment or contract procurement.
This system should be allowed to work for all Nigerians without interference.
There have been arguments over time that securing employment in civil service across all levels require a measure of connection, as the ordinary Nigerian cannot gain employment at a government parastatal because those in charge would rather employ their relatives.
This belief among Nigerians has seen them play down any form of employment opportunity in the civil service; a development they have heavily criticized and described as absorbed.
