Onodiong Usen, a visually impaired educationist in Akwa Ibom State, has appealed to Governor Umo Eno to intervene after he was allegedly denied an appointment despite scoring 80% in the state civil service recruitment examination.
Usen claims he successfully completed the Computer Based Test (CBT) and attended the subsequent oral interview, yet he has been excluded from the final list of successful candidates. His appeal comes at a time when the state government has publicly pledged to prioritise merit-based recruitment and foster the inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in public service.
The situation, which was detailed in an account by Premium Times Nigeria, has raised questions regarding the transparency of the recruitment process and whether the state’s commitment to disability inclusion is being implemented on the ground.
Meritocracy and disability inclusion in Akwa Ibom
The Akwa Ibom State government has previously emphasised its intention to build a civil service based on competence. The introduction of Computer Based Tests (CBT) was intended to minimise human interference and ensure that candidates are assessed solely on their ability to perform the required tasks.
For Usen, a high score of 80% serves as evidence of his academic and professional readiness to serve the state. By appealing directly to Governor Eno, Usen is seeking a review of his case to ensure that his performance is not overlooked due to his physical impairment.
The exclusion of high-performing individuals, particularly those from vulnerable groups, presents a challenge to the credibility of the administration’s social inclusion policies. While Nigeria has various frameworks to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, the actual integration of these individuals into the workforce remains a significant hurdle at the state level.
If the recruitment process fails to reward merit, it risks undermining the confidence of qualified professionals in the state’s institutional processes. The discrepancy between the government’s inclusive rhetoric and the actual outcomes for candidates like Usen remains a point of contention.
The Akwa Ibom State Civil Service Commission has not yet provided a formal response to the allegations or explained the specific criteria that led to the exclusion of high-scoring candidates. The matter remains pending as Usen awaits a decision from the state government.
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