Just In: Imo rep sparks backlash for securing federal jobs for constituents

DDM News

A federal lawmaker from Imo State, Miriam Onuoha, has come under fire for publicly announcing that she secured federal jobs for some of her constituents.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that Onuoha, who represents Okigwe North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, made the announcement via her official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday.

The lawmaker, who belongs to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), stated that she facilitated job placements for her constituents in the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), and the National Assembly Service Commission.

In the now-viral post, Onuoha shared pictures showing three individuals holding what appear to be official employment letters, with the lawmaker herself seen presenting the documents.

She captioned the post with praise for the opportunity to empower her people, adding that she would continue to pursue such interventions in her capacity as a federal representative.

Onuoha is also the chairperson of the House Committee on TETFund and other services, a position that gives her influence in legislative oversight of some of the agencies where the jobs were reportedly secured.

However, her social media announcement quickly sparked criticism, especially on X, where many Nigerians questioned the fairness of federal recruitment processes.

Critics argue that such public distribution of employment slots undermines merit-based hiring and favors political loyalty over qualification and competence.

Several users described the act as a reflection of Nigeria’s deeply flawed recruitment system, where opportunities are often reserved for those with political connections.

Others demanded a reform of the civil service employment process to ensure that deserving Nigerians from all backgrounds can compete on a level playing field.

As of Sunday evening, Onuoha had not addressed the criticisms nor clarified whether the recruitments followed open, competitive procedures.

The controversy has reignited a broader conversation about transparency, favoritism, and inequality in Nigeria’s federal employment practices.

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