The Rivers State government, under the administration of Sole Administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), has debunked viral reports claiming the commencement of a massive recruitment exercise into the state civil service.
On Thursday, widespread information circulated on social media suggesting that the state had launched a recruitment drive for 10,000 graduates and non-graduates, allegedly approved by Ibas and announced by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Ibibia Lucky Worika.
However, in a swift rebuttal, the acting Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Inyingi Brown, issued a formal statement dismissing the claims as false and misleading. Brown stressed that the purported announcement did not originate from any authorized government channel and urged the public to disregard it entirely.
“The Office of the Administrator of Rivers State wishes to disclaim a purported Special Government Announcement spreading round on social media and other platforms,” the statement read.
“The announcement stated that His Excellency, the Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, has approved the recruitment of 10,000 qualified graduates and non graduates into the Rivers State civil service and that the recruitment portal shall be opened for application midnight of Sunday 13/04/2025. The statement is claimed to have been signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Lucky Worika.”
Brown made it clear that no such decision has been made and reaffirmed that all official communication regarding civil service recruitment would be made exclusively through the Rivers State Civil Service Commission.
“We wish to categorically inform the people of Rivers State and the general public that this is false and ask that this fake announcement be ignored. Appropriate information will be released by the Rivers State Civil Service Commission in due time,” the statement concluded.
This clarification comes amid heightened political tension and public scrutiny of Ibas’ short-term administration, following his controversial appointment as Sole Administrator. His tenure has already been mired in legal and political controversies over constitutional legitimacy and executive authority, making the spread of unverified information even more sensitive.
The public has been urged to remain vigilant against misinformation and rely only on verified official channels for updates on government activities and employment opportunities.
