Jemilu Akpah, a physically challenged ex-corps member could not hide his excitement after he was offered automatic employment by the Kogi State government in July 2022.
Akpah, an English and Literary graduate from Kogi State University (KSU), was given automatic employment based on a “compassionate ground” alongside Mary Aimuan from Edo state, who won the prestigious NYSC State Merit Award.
ALSO READ: Alleged Terrorism: Drama as Yahaya Bello makes U-turn, denies defaming Natasha
Barely 5 months after he was promised automatic employment by the State Governor at the passing out parade of the Batch B Stream I corps members in Lokoja, Akpah who spoke to Quest Times in an exclusive interview on Saturday said all efforts to get his appointment letter proved abortive as he was denied access to the governor.
“The governor (Yahaya Bello) on July 7, 2022, gave me automatic employment with immediate effect. I was called on a fateful day, July 22 to be precise, to come for my appointment letter.
“I was directed to the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) where I waited for several hours to no avail. I couldn’t see the SSG. Since then I haven’t heard from them (Kogi State Government).
“All my efforts to see the governor who promised me the automatic employment proved abortive as I was denied access to him by the security personnel at the entrance. I don’t really have political connection if not I would have been able to see him (Yahaya Bello),” he said.
When asked if the governor was aware of his present predicament, he said; “I’m not sure he is aware since he was the one that called on us to come and collect our employment letter on the 22nd of July which I honoured.
“Whereas, I was told that I should have gone to the Head of Service (HoS) office instead of the SSG. It was after my several attempts that the woman at the SSG office told me it is a permanent employment (not political) that I should have gone to the HoS which I obliged. This was two months after the completion of my service.”
According to him, the Commissioner of Sports collected all his details and necessary documents but yet he has not been given employment letter.
Akpah, who currently manages a Cyber Cafe after his NYSC begged the State Governor to intervene on the matter.
Reacting, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Muhammed Onogwu said the matter is on the desk of the Head of Service while accusing the ex-corps member of blackmailing the State Government.
“Let me, first of all, say that the offer of employment to the person in question was based on the compassionate ground, love and care of the Governor for the people living with special needs and not on academic prowess because he also has students with superior grades in his set.
“He (Akpah) is one out of the 24 Students offered automatic employment by the Kogi State Government under the leadership of His Excellency Yahaya Bello with 23 others bagged first-class grades. The same person has reached out to me and I have told him to hold on and that when the compilation is done and arrangements as to where they would be placed concluded, the appropriate authority will contact all the beneficiaries.
ALSO READ: Disgraced Yahaya Bello’s commissioner deletes poll after Peter Obi defeated Tinubu by wide margin
“Government is a system and does not operate at the whims and caprices of an individual or work to meet the urgency of any person. The Head of Service had meticulously compiled the list of the beneficiaries, identified where suits each beneficiary and briefed the State Executive Council on the 24th of November, just last week.
“It is also on the table of the Head of Service to contact the beneficiaries after the State Executive Council’s approval last week so, why is he running to the market with such emotional blackmails? Is the SSG in charge of worker recruitment in the state?
“At the EXCO last week, the governor commended the Head of Service for being so dutiful in ensuring that the selection was done perfectly.
“The Governor said that he will continue to reward hard work, diligence, and commitment in every aspect of governance until the last day of his administration and urged the appropriate authority to continue to scout for excellence for reward.
“This is not something someone will invade an uncontrolled environment to blackmail government officials (sic),” he wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday.