Criticism has been directed at the Federal Government by major opposition parties for its handling of the worsening economic situation in the country. They point to the massive number of job applications received by the Nigeria Customs Service as evidence of the impact of government policies.
The Nigeria Customs Service recently disclosed that it received a staggering 573,519 applications for just 3,927 available positions in its latest recruitment drive. The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, had earlier confirmed the approval of the recruitment of 3,927 officers into the NCS.
Abdullahi Maiwada, the NCS National Public Relations Officer, noted that the applications came from individuals with various educational backgrounds, including university graduates, Higher National Diploma holders, and even those with secondary school certificates.
Opposition leaders attribute this surge in job applications to the government’s failure to create a conducive business environment and tackle the rising cost of living. They place the responsibility on the current administration for not fostering entrepreneurship and addressing poverty adequately.
The Labour Party and the New Nigeria People’s Party criticize the administration for the imbalance between job opportunities and the number of applicants, emphasizing the challenges of poverty and insecurity faced by many Nigerians.
Both parties express concern over the prioritization of revenue generation over citizen welfare, urging the government to focus on broader economic issues and create an environment that encourages job creation by private entrepreneurs.