After graduating from the University in the year 2002, I looked for a job yet to good one was forth coming. I was so stranded. Frustrations came in. My mates who were lucky after NYSC, they had all left me behind. I was so down casted looking for job.
Finally I gave up, borrowed money and started up a business center were I do photocopy, printing and some other things. I managed it for sometime. It took me 4 years to recover the money I borrowed to start up the business. I was happy that I didn’t owe anybody. Still, I was still searching for a job to compliment my business because the responsibility. I have a wife and a beautiful daughter. I told my wife to hold on a little before getting pregnant again due to finances. My first baby, I knew what it cost us. My business nearly closed down. The antenatal, baby cloths and food items and that season, there was no work at all. My wife too who is a teacher in one of the private primary school in the town, she is really trying.
This particular day, I saw an advert on one of the prominent newspapers that Delta state ministry of Justice was recruiting. I didn’t even waste much time. I and my wife applied.
The day I took the application to their office, I met an old friend of mine who works there. He asked me what I came there to do. I told her I came to look for a job because I discovered that the office placed an advert on the newspaper. She laughed at me. She told me that there are no vacancies and infact the office has recruited the people they wanted. I couldn’t understand what she was saying. Because the closing date for the application was still far. She laughed again on hearing what I was saying. She said I shouldn’t just waste my time, that the people they have taken would be resuming the upper week. “How come,” I asked again. She said I should go and check all the state Government parastatals, that is how they do. They would bring up an advert that they are recruiting.
Before then, they had already gotten people they wanted. So many of their Ogas would bring their own people to occupy the spaces before they would finally place the advert as camouflage. But them don already employ people them want.
As this my old friend was talking, I was just speechless and looking at her. She said many people have been bringing application letters and their CVs but it’s because she knows me that’s why she was just telling me. She said she would have shown me the dustbin were they throw away all those applications but due to office etiquette she won’t. once they get applications, they would throw them there. Well, I and wife’s own were part of those thrown into the dustbin. I actually submitted it to fulfill that I have submitted just incase miracle happens, but there was none because time flied and no call was received.
As time went on, I kept trying my best. I even tell couple of friends who I know works in Government parastatals to help me out. Some of them said even if they can help me, I have to bring huge amount of money for their main Ogas. I refused because I see no reason why I should pay to get a job. But as time went on, I didn’t receive any positive outcome. The only thing I was told is that I have to pay to get a job.
Sometimes we would see an advert published that a Government parastatal is recruiting, if one gets there to submit CV and application, they would tell us that they are no longer recruiting. But according to the advert on the newspaper, the job opening had not expired oo.
I was tired of everything. This particular day in early 2014, one of my church member called me that their own government owned parastatal is looking for workers though they are not advertising it in the pages of newspaper. So it’s only their top Ogas that are fielding people to the positions. But he told one of his Oga that he has someone that has been searching for a job for a long time. So his Oga said he should bring the person. That was why he called me to come and see his boss. I was so excited about it. I followed him to see his boss.
Boss told me that he was willing to field my name to the employment list if only I will agree to forfeit my first 2 months salary. Na so I just dey look the man for eye. How will I just allow someone to eat my first 2 months salary just because he was helping me to get a job. So many friends advised me to take up the offer since it’s just 2 months salary, it was nothing compared to many that had and will forfeit a year salary. I thought about it. I have been looking for job for over 10 years, this one was a golden opportunity, so loosing it would be terrible for me. And there was still another space in that office in which I would like my wife to fill. I took the offer to release my two months salary to the Oga. They also told my wife that if they would be willing to give her that job, she should bring N150,000. Na so we begin look for money ooo. We borrowed money and gave to the Ogas. Finally, job was given to us. It was wonderful. So many people were happy for us. After 13 years of job hunting, I now had a job.
Government job for that matter. See swag oooo. I had to hire someone to be working for us at our business center. All was well until after the Governorship primary in Delta state.
In 2015, elections were held. We all were happy that we are having a change of Government. Baba Buhari dey enter Presidency while senator Ifeanyi Okowa dey Dey enter Governor status. May 29, swearing in took place and we were happy that Okowa has taking over from former Governor Uduaghan.
On the 2nd of June 2015, we got the shocker of our lives. Governor Okowa said that every one that were recruited from January 2013 to that June 2015 in all Government parastatals should be laid off with immediate effect because their recruiting was illegal, even the exercise was dubious. Infact when I and my wife got to work on Wednesday 3rd, personal data files were no longer in the office. Now we are no longer workers. This is back to square one, to the our business center. And my wife is even pregnant. After searching for job for bad 13 years, getting it, you spend one year in it and was laid off. Taking me back to job hunting again. With all the testimonies we shared in the church, Dem fire us.
http://www.hovabuzz.com/frontline/1012-how-he-finally-got-a-job-after-13-years-of-search-and-got-fired-few-months-later
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