The Rivers State Executive Council has approved the immediate recruitment of 5,000 indigenes into the state civil service to enhance administrative efficiency and public service delivery.

This decision was reached during the second council meeting of 2026, presided by Governor Siminalayi Fubara with his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, in attendance, held in Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr Honor Sirawoo, disclosed that the recruitment is strategically focused on the education sector to address manpower needs.

Honour said with the latest recruitment, the number of people that will now be employed by the Fubara-led administration is over nine thousand.

Dr Siraawoo stated, “We just concluded the State Executive Council Meeting presided over by the Executive Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.

“Several issues were looked at, but more prominent was that the Rivers State Executive Council had approved the employment of five thousand people into the state civil service. The move is designed to strengthen service delivery in the state, particularly the education sector.”

He said a breakdown of the number shows that 300 will be recruited to serve in the basic and primary school stage, while 2000 will serve at the post-primary school level.

“You know the government has, over time, been employing. This administration is not about making so much noise about what it is doing because our services are for the entire Rivers people.

“This brings the number to about 9,500 persons that this administration has engaged. Recall that 1500 had been recruited into the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, 2000 for Medical Services, 1000 for Universal Basic Education,” the Permanent Secretary added.

Emphasising the government’s commitment to merit, Dr Sirawoo said, “The process for the employment of these approved 5,000 persons will be well-guided to ensure that only qualified persons are recruited.”

Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment, Dr Chisom Kenneth Gbali, welcomed the approval.

He described the decision as a major boost, noting that his ministry stands as the greatest beneficiary of the policy plan. (The PUNCH)

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