FCC Commissioner Tells Enugu Youths: Land FG Jobs Without A Godfather!

Peter Eze, the Federal Character Commission Commissioner for Enugu State, has urged young people in the state to abandon the notion that jobs in the federal government are only available to those with political connections. He claims that qualified candidates can obtain opportunities by adhering to due process.

Eze made this statement on Thursday during the “Beyond Quotas: Unlocking Opportunities for Enugu Youths Through the Federal Character Commission” Peter Eze Youth Connect workshop at the International Conference Center in Enugu.

He claimed that many competent young people had been deterred from applying by the widespread false information that federal jobs had already been shared before they were advertised.

“One of the major reasons for this unfortunate situation is the existence of generational fallacies, erroneous impressions and misleading assumptions that advertised or publicised Federal Public Service and other public service jobs have already been shared or given out even before they are publicly advertised.”

“No player has ever won a football match outside the pitch. Let me, therefore, use this opportunity to emphasise that you can barely get an opportunity you do not apply for.”

“You do not need to buy a job; you need to prepare yourself,” he said, warning youths against middlemen and anyone demanding payment for legitimate government employment.

The commissioner said the workshop was also designed to expose participants to grants, scholarships, fellowships, training programmes and other opportunities, adding that five participants would be selected for full scholarships to study abroad.

He said the initiative would be sustained beyond the workshop to create a network through which youths could access and share information on legitimate opportunities.

“Let nobody make you believe that you need a godfather before you can succeed. Get the information. Follow the process. Prepare yourself. Apply. Compete. And pursue your opportunity.”

In Nigeria, the influence of a Godfather remains deeply entrenched in the societal and political landscape. Without a powerful Godfather, it is often challenging to secure roles, opportunities, or positions of influence. The system tends to favor those with the right connections and patronage, making it difficult for genuinely talented or deserving individuals to succeed on merit alone. Until a shift occurs towards transparency and fairness, the reality remains: in Nigeria, having a Godfather is often the key to getting ahead.