It is no longer news that early this year Engineer Seyi Makinde; Oyo State governor, started employment into Oyo state civil service like his predecessors. What therefore becomes news is that he pursues sectional interest worse than his predecessors. Oyo State has thirty-three (33) local government areas recognized in the constitution even though other two local government areas- Ifeloju and Ifedayo were dubiously derecognized by power that be. Of the recognized local government areas in the State, Ibadan has 11, Oke-Ogun has 10, Oyo has 4, Ogbomoso has 5 and Ibarapa has 3.
In the recently released lists of Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) and Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLT) short-listed candidates of the Oyo State Hospital Management Board for employment interview scheduled to hold between September 2 and 24, 2020 which I was able to obtain, critical review revealed that five different local government areas of Orelope (the deputy governor LGA), Saki-East, Oriire, Ogo-Oluwa and Ido were simply and conspicuously ignored for consideration. Of all the 5 ignored local government areas, Oke-Ogun accounted for 40% ditto to Ogbomosho which recorded 40% and Ibadan less city accounted for 20%.
Apart from the Computer-Based Test (CBT) being a deliberate attempt to sideline people from rural areas especially Oke-Ogun residents who hardly have access to systems but can compete favourably in their chosen careers, the practical knowledge of people not considered for interview because of CBT could make theorists have upper hands at the end than the specialists. That is why in most offices, theorists often find it difficult to cope with practical issues. I could remember how I only know how to write but could hardly speak for a long period until BBC started engaging the boy in its weekly radio programme. So, if I failed to speak ‘fintinfintin’ for more than 2 minutes, does that mean I do not know anything? Similarly, for those who could not even move mouse faster because they are not used to it, their inability didn’t mean they are now capable. Therefore, a sincere interview would have considered ranges of techniques to identifying best products.
Now, considering the local government areas of the shortlisted candidates in the state, Egbeda has 6 MLS candidates with 3 MLT candidates while Ibarapa North has 1 each for MLS and MLT. For Ibadan South East, it has 3 MLS and 2 MLT candidates shortlisted while Atiba has 3 MLS with nil for MLT. Oluyole has 2 each for MLS and MLT and Ogbomoso south has 9 MLS candidates while Lagelu has 4 MLS with no MLT. Ibadan North East has 4 MLS candidates with 6 MLS and Oyo East has just one MLS candidate shortlisted. Afijio was lucky with 6 MLS and 2 MLT candidates while Ibadan north has just 4 MLS candidate. Kajola has 1 MLS with 4 MLT candidates and Akinyele has only 1 MLS candidate. Atisbo with its complexity has just 2 MLS and 1 MLT while Iwajowa has 2 MLS and 7 MLT candidates and Ibarapa East has just 1 MLS candidate with Saki despite its population having only 1 MLS candidate and 2 MLT candidates. Ibadan Southwest has 2 MLS with nil MLS ditto to Ibarapa central with just 1 MLS candidate. Ona-Ara has 2 MLS and 6 MLT candidates and Ogbomosho north has 3 MLS candidates. Olorunsogo has 1 candidate each for MLS and MLT and Oyo west has 1 MLS candidate with 3 MLT candidates while Surulere has just 1 MLS candidate. Ibadan North West has 1 candidate each for MLS and MLT while Iseyin has 1 MLS and 6 MLT candidates with Irepo having only 1 MLT candidate and Itesiwaju has 3 MLT candidates for interview. Ikene, Owo, Ayedire and Ife central has 1 MLT candidate each.
In summary, for MLS; Ibadan has 29 (45%) candidates with 20 (39%) MLT candidates, Oyo has 11 (17%) MLS candidates with 5 (10%) MLT candidates and Ibarapa has 3 (5%) MLS candidates with 1 (2%) MLT candidate. Oke-Ogun has 8 (13%) MLS candidates with 25 (49%) MLS candidates and Ogbomosho has 13 (20%) MLS candidates with nil MLT candidate. In all, the shortlisted Oyo State local government areas accounted for 64 MLS candidates and 51 MLT candidates with just 4 MLS candidates from other states.
In ideal situation, when such release was to be made, fairness and justice ought to have been accorded due place by a sincere government. However, information available at my disposal was that even in the neglected local government areas applicants came from there and even performed better than some who have their names shortlisted. What further evidence do we need to know same sectional interest of the governor will reflect in other categories such as Pharmacy and Medical Departments? If Oke-Ogun with 10 local government areas could just be allotted 13% of MLS slots while Ibadan with 11 local government went away with 45% slots, where is that fairness for God sake? Even experiences have shown that the shortlisted non-Ibadan indigenes may have their names substituted for Ibadan indigenes as it was the practice in the past.
A visit to some of the hospitals would show that the staff members are mainly from Ibadan and often not on duty as they would have traveled home or perhaps have facilitated their transfer home and our people at home with requisite credentials who are readily available are not considered. Imagine the whole of Irepo, Olorunsogo, Atisbo LGAs having just 1 MLT candidate each even though Orelope, Saki-East, Ido, Oriire and Ogo –Oluwa were not even considered at all. Before the end of the screening interview, the Governor should ensure not just release of supplementary lists but guarantee that neglected local government would be considered for employment and not just Ibadan agenda which will get work and facilitate their transfer home within weeks leaving our people at the mercy of available scanty volunteers. In fact, what message was the governor sending out that Orelope LGA that produces his deputy is obviously ignored in recruitment exercise of this nature even when the local government general hospital was the first to be reported officially to him of requiring government attention?
Therefore, those local government areas with 1 or nil candidates should have more candidates as soon as possible. Otherwise the governor has no doubt created very strong negative impression that he is not for Oyo State but his sectional interest.
Luqman Soliu writes from Abeokuta, ogun state. He can be reached via solumsec@gmail.com
