By Nahum Sule (Taraba State Correspondent, in Jalingo)
The Taraba state governor, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku has employed yet another 2000 Taraba youths into the State Civil Service Commission after employing 3000 teachers last year. He offered them retirement homes at the ongoing 5000 housing projects in Jalingo.
At the flag-off ceremony of the historic event in Jalingo, the Taraba state capital, the governor described the event as the first of its kind in the history of the state where applicants were selected based on merits.
According to the governor, he said "It is with a sense of fulfillment that I present letters of employment to the successful candidates who have been successfully engaged into the civil service. It's an enviable achievement because some vied for these slots but couldn't be employed.
"I commend the chairman for a job well done. We shall revamp the Taraba state civil service. Since the creation of the state, there has never been an open exercise of massive employment like my administration did. I am fully aware of the consequences of the high rate of unemployment. That is why my administration is fully geared towards uplifting this great number of unemployed youths.
"Likewise the youth empowerment scheme led by my wife has been able to train thousands of Tarabans. No administration has attempted what I have done. This employment is in line with my administration's desire to fill the vacant spaces in the State Civil and also to avert the collapse of the service", he said.
The governor also advised the new employees to plan ahead, as those who don't plan well, plan to fail. He stated that the newly built 5000 housing projects in DDI Garden will serve as a retirement plan for the state civil servants to own a house before they retire.
In his remarks, the chairman of Taraba State Civil Service Commission (CSC), John Mamman, said the approval of the State Government to employ 2000 applicants to fill the civil service slots is commendable.
He asserts that "On this note, the commission wishes to offer its profound gratitude to the governor to bring in young blood into the state civil service. At the recruitment exercise, 8000 people were screened, from which 2000 were picked. Today, the Commission picked one applicant from each of the council wards to perform the ceremonial event for the successful candidates. The remaining candidates will follow subsequently".
The Taraba State Head Service, Mrs. Suzy Jamimah Mathias, in her address said, "today is yet another historic day in the history of the state. The selection was based on merit. This exercise is the first of its kind in which candidates were selected based on merit. Within two years, 350 graduates were employed. In December, 3000 teachers were also employed in the teaching work, and today, we're flagging off yet another 2000 employment".
She thanked the governor for alleviating the sufferings of the common people in Taraba state. One Miss Lilian from Yoro who speaks for the new employees, thanked the state government for such tremendous achievements, stating that this will further alleviate the hardship in over 2000 poor homes in Taraba state. NNL.