No fewer than 450,000 Nigerians have applied for Federal Government jobs, The PUNCH has learnt.

In January 2025, the Federal Government, through the Federal Civil Service Commission, announced the commencement of recruitment into various positions within the Federal Civil Service.

A newspaper advertorial signed by the Director of Recruitment and Appointment, Ogaba Ede, listed over 70 vacant positions.

Some of the listed positions include: Administrative Officer, Planning Officer, Programme Analyst, Procurement Officer, Senior Computer Engineer, Dentist/Dental Officer, Population Programme Officer, Medical Laboratory Scientist, Education Officer, and Senior Youth Development Officer.

Other positions are: Fisheries Officer, Animal Health and Technologists, Sports Officer, State Counsel, Nursing Officer, Radiographer, Higher Technical Officer, Dietician, Dental Therapist, Assistant Education Officer, Auditor, Cultural Officer, Printing Officer, Tourism Officer and Senior Instructor.

Also on the list of positions are Psychologist, Biomedical Engineer, Surveyor, Aerodrome Engineer, Computer Engineer, Geologist, Programme Analyst, Statistician, and Foreign Affairs Officer.

A statement by the Head of Press and Public Relations at the FCSC, Taiwo Hassan, disclosed that only eligible Nigerians could apply for the available positions through the commission’s official recruitment portal.

The application deadline, initially set for March 10, was later extended to March 17, 2025.

During the registration process, many applicants lamented difficulties in accessing the recruitment portal.

Providing an update on the exercise, a senior commission official who was not authorised to speak publicly told our correspondent that the number of vacancies was fewer than 10,000.

The official added that shortlisted candidates would soon be contacted to write a Computer-Based Test in their respective states.

“Over 450,000 applied for the last recruitment exercise. We have fewer than 10,000 vacancies.

“Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Anyone who does not receive a message didn’t make the shortlist.

“They will soon start to receive messages. The shortlisted candidates will sit for a CBT examination, which will be conducted in their various states.

“There will be no rescheduling. Candidates will see their results immediately after completing the exams,” the official said.

When contacted, the FCSC spokesperson said the commission would release information on the recruitment exercise in due course.

“We will make the information on the recruitment exercise available to the public soon,” he said.

Punch