The Ogun State government’s decision to levy a N10,000 non-refundable fee on job applicants has drawn widespread condemnation, with many accusing the administration of exploiting desperate youths. The backlash, primarily driven by angry netizens, has painted the job vacancy initiative as an “elaborate scheme” aimed at extorting money from the unemployed.
Critics have calculated that if 100,000 applicants were to apply—a conservative estimate considering the high unemployment rates—the state officials involved would have raked in a staggering N1 billion. “This is nothing short of daylight robbery,” one Twitter user lamented. “The government should be creating jobs, not selling them to the highest bidder.”
In response to the mounting pressure and public outrage, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun directed the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission to refund the N10,000 charged to each applicant. Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), conveyed this directive in a statement issued on Thursday in Abeokuta.
The governor’s order comes amidst accusations that the fee was part of a broader scheme to siphon money from struggling citizens under the guise of administrative costs. “These fees are standard and have been in place for decades, charged to cover the costs of third-party independent examiners for the Computer Based Test (CBT),” the government clarified. However, in an attempt to “alleviate the suffering of the citizens and create employment,” the governor has now mandated an immediate refund of the fees and waived the charge for any future applications.
Despite the government’s attempt to justify the fee as a longstanding practice, the move has done little to quell public anger. Many see the refund as a reactionary measure to save face rather than a genuine concern for the welfare of job seekers.
