In Delta State, Nigeria, a big problem has happened. The government’s Civil Service Commission is checking the ages of senior workers to see if they are still supposed to be working. But the way they are doing this has caused a lot of confusion, sadness, and even death.
What Is Going On? The Civil Service Commission started a screening to check if top-level workers (called civil servants) are telling the truth about their age. These are people who have worked for the government for many years. But instead of being organized, the whole process is a big mess.
At the Commission’s office in Asaba, workers had to look through piles of messy papers to find their own files. Some couldn’t find their names. The files weren’t arranged properly, and people didn’t know where to go.
No Place to Sleep, No Plan Many of these workers came from other places and had nowhere to stay. Some slept in cars or hotels because there was no plan to help them. A senior worker said, “I’ve worked for over 30 years, and this is how I’m treated?”
Some People Asked for Bribes Some staff were asking workers to pay money to find their files. That’s called bribery, and it’s wrong. People felt they were being cheated during a process that was supposed to help the government.
People Died from Shock At least two workers died after getting sudden letters saying they had to retire. The news was so shocking and painful that it led to their deaths. This made others scared and upset.
Why Not Use Computers? Many people don’t understand why the Commission is still using paper when all the workers’ information is already on computers. A worker said, “Our records are already saved digitally. Why are we suffering like this?”
What Did the Civil Service Commission Say? Joy Christabel Sylvester, the Civil Service Commission’s spokesperson, said the screening is an “in-house” (private) exercise for civil servants only. She said the process is still new and any problems will be looked at later.
When asked why workers were searching for their own files, she said it’s normal and has always been the way things are done. She also said the screening was ordered by the Governor and is meant to check if workers are still in service.
If files are missing, she explained, it’s the responsibility of the offices where those workers came from. They should make sure the files are sent to the Commission.
People Want the Governor to Help Now, many people are begging Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to stop the screening and fix the problems. They want the process to be done with respect, care, and better planning—especially for people who have worked hard for many years.
In Summary:
- Delta State is checking senior workers’ ages.
- The process is messy and people are very upset.
- Some people had to sleep outside and were asked to pay bribes.
- At least two people died from shock.
- Many are calling on the Governor to step in and make it right.
