Youths from the South East have responded to the Nigerian Army’s concern over the low number of applicants from the region in the ongoing recruitment exercise. They criticized the system, saying it is unjust that job opportunities at institutions like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) are kept secret and reserved for politicians and elites, while riskier roles such as those in the army are made widely available.
They emphasized that security roles should be based on merit, not allocated through “slots.”
A youth named Elijah remarked,
“Security jobs should be given based on interest and merit, not through a slot system. Hiring through slots brings in many unqualified candidates.”
The Nigerian Army had earlier expressed disappointment over the poor turnout of South East youths to Army recruitment exercise. During a meeting with the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, Brigadier General Chima Ekeator, the head of the 2025 Nigerian Army Recruitment team, voiced his concerns during the session held in Umuahia.
Echezona Okafor.
