ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Enugu State Government has lamented lack of interest by the youths in the State towards enlisting in the Nigerian Army.
Following this, the Government invited stakeholders of the State at the local government and community levels, including the clergy, traditional rulers and youths, to an emergency zonal meeting with the State government and the leadership of the Nigerian Army.
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information, Steve Oruruo, the meeting will hold across the three senatorial districts of the state on Saturday, 5 November, 2022.
Those invited to the meeting are Chairmen of the 17 Local Government Councils, all Traditional Rulers of Autonomous Communities, all Presidents-General of Autonomous Communities and all Youth Leaders of Autonomous Communities.
Other invitees are members of the Clergy, all heads of Neighbourhood Watch and Forest Guards from Autonomous Communities and heads of various youth organizations.
The statement informed also that the meeting will hold in Enugu North Senatorial District at Nsukka Local Government Council Headquarters, on Saturday, at 9am.
Also, it will hold the same day in Enugu West Senatorial District at Awgu Local Government Council Headquarters at 11am, and at 2pm in Nkanu West Local Government Council Headquarters for Enugu East Senatorial District.
Meanwhile, in another statement signed by Oruruo, he said, “Sequel to the opening of the online application portal for the Nigerian Army (NA) Recruitment Exercise for the 84 Regular Recruits intake which commenced on 10th October, 2022 , a team from the Nigeria Army Headquarters is slated to visit the Government and people of Enugu State from the 5th of November, 2022.
“The visit is to confer and interact with the political leadership and various stakeholders of our State regarding the observed apathy of the young men and women of our state with regard to the previously conducted recruitment exercises. Unfortunately, this has become an appalling and recurring issue adversely affecting Enugu state’s representation in the Nigerian Army according to the data emanating from the Federal Character Commission.
“Regrettably, during the recruitment exercise for the 82 and 83 Regular intakes, Enugu State contingents were only 73 and 49 people respectively as opposed to the 150 slots reserved for the state on each occasion based on the quota system .
“The consequence of today’s inaction is that in time, our dear state would obviously be unevenly represented when other personnel recruited would have progressed in service. Uninformed observers could erroneously misinterpret this scenario in future as marginalization and imbalance in the federal character.
“To reverse this retrogressive trend therefore, a team from Army Headquarters is billed to meet with the Government of the State, the leadership of various youth organizations, socio-economic and political stakeholders, traditional rulers, town union presidents and the clergy, in order to forge a way forward to educate and enlighten the teeming youths of the state on the merits and prospects of serving the Nation through the Nigerian Army.
“It is in this light that the State Government hereby enjoins the good people of the State, especially our vibrant and teeming youths to seize this golden opportunity to be recruited into the prestigious and resilient Nigerian Army. All interested persons are encouraged to speedily proceed to the Nigerian Army Recruitment Portal to submit their applications.”