The Bayelsa State Government has pledged to mobilise youths across the state to participate in the ongoing 92nd Regular Recruitment Exercise of the Nigerian Army, with a target of filling the state’s quota of about 750 recruits.
The commitment was made on Wednesday when a delegation from the Nigerian Army, led by the Director of Coordination, Army War College, Abuja, Brigadier-General Ben Ogbuji, visited the Government House in Yenagoa as part of efforts to sensitise residents about the recruitment exercise.
Representing Governor Douye Diri, Deputy Governor Dr Peter Akpe said the government would work with relevant agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to encourage qualified Bayelsans to apply.
Diri described the exercise as an employment opportunity for unemployed youths and urged eligible applicants to meet the requirements and take part in the recruitment process.
The governor also commended the Nigerian Army for improving its relationship with civilians, saying the development had helped reduce the fear previously associated with interactions between soldiers and members of the public.
He said, “The contemporary Nigerian military or army relations with the people has become very civil. The military has made it so civil; the fear that civilians cannot mix well with military personnel has been dispelled.
“We want to appreciate you on that.”
Diri, however, recalled that some Bayelsan youths who had shown interest in joining the Army in previous recruitment exercises later withdrew, while others were disqualified for different reasons.
He said the ongoing sensitisation would help prospective applicants understand the requirements and avoid errors that could lead to disqualification.
The governor also called on political, traditional and community leaders to support the mobilisation effort and ensure that Bayelsa does not lose its allocated slots to applicants from other states.
He said, “The recruitment is also a form of employment and we are talking about 28,000 potential recruits to be evenly distributed among all the states.
“With this fresh zeal, all of us in society, political leaders, traditional rulers, community leaders and those in governance should do our bit to ensure our quota is filled, otherwise others will take up our chances again in this recruitment exercise.”
Earlier, Ogbuji said the delegation visited Bayelsa on the directive of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Waidi Shaibu, following concerns that the state had repeatedly failed to meet its quota in previous recruitment exercises.
He explained that the sensitisation programme was intended to educate Bayelsans about the 92nd Regular Recruitment Exercise and address misconceptions and misinformation believed to have contributed to low participation among youths in the state.
He said, “Over the years, it has been observed that, unfortunately, the people of Bayelsa State have not been meeting up with their quota as required by the Constitution of Nigeria.
“And that concern has come to the notice of the Chief of Army Staff. So, in the spirit of fairness, equity and justice, he has sent us here to do a sensitisation to educate the people of Bayelsa State about the ongoing recruitment exercise.”
Ogbuji warned that failure by Bayelsa youths to take up the available slots would not prevent the Army from completing its recruitment quota, as the vacancies would ultimately be filled by applicants from other states.
He said the Chief of Army Staff wanted Bayelsa youths to take their “rightful place” in the Nigerian Army and stressed that the sensitisation was aimed at ensuring qualified young people in the state were not left behind.
He said, “Because whether the state fills its quota or not, at the end of the day, people from other states fill that quota.
“It is the desire of the COAS that the people of Bayelsa State take their rightful place and that is basically why we are here this morning.”
The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, was also present during the visit.
