Three slump during Imo job recruitment

GOVERNOR OF IMO STATE, ROCHAS OKOROCHAI

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At least three persons collapsed yesterday following a stampede during the collection of civil service application forms at the Imo State Secretariat, Owerri.
Several other people, especially pregnant women and nursing mothers, sustained varying degrees of injury.

The exercise, which started on Monday and expected to end next Monday, has continued to record unprecedented number of jobless youths from various local government areas.
It was gathered that the exercise has been marred by violence, leading to the breaking of windows, doors, chairs and tables, among others, following protests of marginalisation and favouritism.
One of the job seekers who sustained injury, Collins Iheme from Isu Local Government Area, blamed the stampede on the government for not being able to conduct a decent exercise.
Another applicant, Mercy Akuroulo, expressed dismay over the process, saying that if government was serious to provide people with jobs, it ought to have taken measures to ensure a smooth exercise. She alleged that N2,000 was demanded and collected from each of the applicants, despite the initial assurance that the form was free.
The police was brought in to quell the angry and protesting applicants, who stoned the Civil Service Commission officials. The state Head of Service, Mr Calistus Ekenze, condemned the stampede but gave the assurance that the Civil Service Commission handling the exercise had taken steps to ensure a smooth exercise.http://newtelegraphonline.com/three-slump-during-imo-job-recruitment/