Over 450,000 Nigerians Apply for Less Than 10,000 Civil Service Positions

Nigeria’s high unemployment rates and the prestige of government employment, no fewer than 450,000 Nigerians have applied for jobs in the Federal Civil Service, following the government’s nationwide recruitment drive. The process, which began in January 2025 under the oversight of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), has drawn an unprecedented number of applicants for a relatively small number of vacancies—fewer than 10,000.

The recruitment campaign was publicized through a newspaper advertorial signed by Ogaba Ede, the Director of Recruitment and Appointment. The advert detailed over 70 vacant roles across various ministries, departments, and agencies. Some of the positions advertised include Administrative Officer, Education Officer, Dentist, Programme Analyst, Medical Laboratory Scientist, and Procurement Officer.

Additional roles such as Fisheries Officer, Radiographer, Biomedical Engineer, Psychologist, and Foreign Affairs Officer further broadened the appeal, reflecting a diverse array of professional opportunities. This extensive list of positions catered to a wide spectrum of qualifications and career fields, thereby fueling the rush of applications.

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As the application portal opened, a flood of hopeful Nigerians attempted to register. However, many were met with technical challenges. Several applicants expressed their frustration over difficulties in accessing the commission’s recruitment portal, citing server downtimes and form submission errors. Despite these issues, the portal saw continuous activity until the deadline, which was initially March 10 but later extended to March 17, 2025, to accommodate the high traffic.

Taiwo Hassan, Head of Press and Public Relations at the FCSC, reiterated that only qualified Nigerians were eligible to apply. According to him, the recruitment was conducted solely through the commission’s official portal to ensure transparency and merit-based selection.

An FCSC insider, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the overwhelming number of applications received. “Over 450,000 Nigerians applied for the last recruitment exercise, while the available positions are less than 10,000,” the official said. He added that the commission had completed the initial screening and that successful applicants would soon receive notifications for the next stage—a Computer-Based Test (CBT).

The CBT, scheduled to be conducted in applicants’ respective states, marks a crucial step in the selection process. Candidates will receive their results immediately after the test, according to the official. He emphasized that there would be no opportunity for rescheduling, urging applicants to prepare adequately and show up as scheduled.

“For those who don’t get a message, it simply means they weren’t shortlisted,” he clarified.

While applicants await official communication from the commission, the broader implications of this recruitment drive continue to spark discussions. Analysts point to the stark contrast between the number of vacancies and the volume of applications as evidence of Nigeria’s worsening employment crisis. The situation also underscores the enduring appeal of civil service jobs, which are often seen as stable, prestigious, and relatively secure amid economic uncertainty.

When contacted, the FCSC spokesperson confirmed that further details on the recruitment process would be released soon. “We will make the information on the recruitment exercise available to the public in due course,” he stated.

For now, the nation watches closely as hundreds of thousands of hopefuls await the next step in what has become one of the most competitive federal recruitment exercises in recent history.