Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has instructed the refund of N10,000 application fees paid by job seekers for civil service positions.
This decision comes in response to a recent report by SaharaReporters, which highlighted the controversial practice of charging non-refundable fees for job applications.
Governor Abiodun’s intervention marks a notable shift from the state’s previous stance on job application fees, which had sparked widespread criticism among the public.
The directive to refund the fees was communicated in an official statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, outlining a new approach to the ongoing civil service recruitment exercise.
The statement explained that the N10,000 fee had been a longstanding practice, supposedly to cover the costs associated with administering and supervising computer-based tests conducted by third-party examiners.
However, recognizing the current economic challenges faced by many Nigerians and the overarching goal of the recruitment exercise—to provide employment and alleviate economic hardship—the governor decided to waive these fees.
“The fees charged were historically implemented to cover the expenses of third-party examiners and other administrative costs,” the statement read.
“However, in light of the current economic situation and the recruitment’s goal of providing job opportunities, the governor has directed an immediate refund of all application fees and has also waived fees for any new applications.”
The original memo, issued by the Permanent Secretary of the Ogun State Civil Service Commission, had detailed the procedure for applying for civil service positions, including the requirement to pay a non-refundable N10,000 fee.
The memo stipulated that applicants were to obtain a teller from Room A261 at the Civil Service Commission office and pay the fee before receiving their application forms.
Completed forms and supporting documents were then to be submitted to the Director of Appointment and Transfer at the state secretariat.
