10, 000 youths struggle for gov Ayade’s green police

In from Ali Smart…
The unemployment crisis bedeviling the country further manifested Saturday as several pregnant women and nursing mothers were among thousands of applicants who stormed the U.J Esuene Stadium in Cross River State to participate in the first phase of recruitment into the state’s Green Police.
The exercise, which commenced with a two-kilometre walk from UJ Esuene stadium through MCC and Murtala Muhammed Highway and back, saw thousands of very energetic youth aged between 18 and 35 queuing up as early as 7.am to be shortlisted as cadets.
Others included former councillors as well as those above 40 years who have experienced long years of unemployment.
Reacting to the mammoth crowd, Governor Ben Ayade said he was saddened by what the exercise in Calabar had clearly revealed, which is a depressing unemployment situation not only in Cross River but the entire country.
“I feel very sad that this is the kind of situation that confronts us as a people and as a nation. I have always maintained that my government is for the very poor. I completely agree with the philosophy of my predecessor, Liyel Imoke that governance should be taken to those who need it the most. I am guided by this philosophy.”
Expatiating, Ayade said: “What I have seen here today, the challenge is on me to create more jobs for our teeming unemployed youths.”‎
Speaking at the venue of the recruitment exercise, Permanent Secretary, Forestry Commission, Dr (Mrs) Perpetua Aji, who said that she was overwhelmed by the turnout including pregnant women whom she described as unfit for the paramilitary job, disclosed: “The exercise was borne out of Governor Ben Ayade’s desire to increase the forest cover of the state, with aggressive and massive planting of trees, raising nursery beds, so we need people to participate to actualise this dream.”
She further stressed that “the purpose of establishing Green Police in the state is to protect the forest, plant trees, protect the coastal land amongst other environmental conservation programmed in their respective communities under Forestry Commission.”
The Permanent Secretary also disclosed that “though the advertisement was restricted to OND and NCE as the highest qualifications, those with higher qualifications including PhD have also been jostling to be employed into the Green Police due to lack of employment.”

Read also: Ijaw youths tackle OBJ

One of the pregnant women and mother of three, Mrs Esther Manson, from Akamkpa Local Government Area, said: “I know it is risky for me to do this exercise, I want to assist my husband to support the house, I don’t want to be left behind.”
Over eight thousand persons submitted applications for the recruitment exercise.
The first phase of the recruitment exercise covered the seven local council areas of the Southern Senatorial District which attracted 4000 applicants. The remaining two Senatorial districts of Northern and Central are expected in a few days.
About 1,500 persons will be recruited into the special force as the governor promised to create 1000 jobs in his first hundred days in office.

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now