The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has strongly refuted widely circulating reports on social media alleging that he has approved the recruitment of 10,000 new personnel into the state�s civil service. Describing the reports as entirely false and misleading, the state government has urged members of the public to disregard the claims in their entirety.
The clarification was formally issued on Thursday in Port Harcourt through a public statement released by the acting Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. Inyingi Brown. In the statement, Dr. Brown condemned the viral report as fake news and warned residents against falling victim to misinformation, particularly from unverified sources online.
The misleading announcement, which has been making the rounds on various social media platforms, falsely claimed that the Sole Administrator had approved a massive civil service recruitment exercise. It also stated that an online portal would open by midnight on Sunday, April 13, 2025, to accept applications from interested candidates. To give the fake report a semblance of authenticity, the statement was deceitfully attributed to the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Worika.
�We wish to categorically inform the people of Rivers State and the general public to ignore the fake announcement regarding the recruitment of 10,000 personnel into the state civil service,� the official statement read. �There is no such recruitment exercise currently underway, nor has any directive to that effect been given by the Sole Administrator.�
Dr. Brown further emphasized that any legitimate information concerning employment opportunities within the Rivers State Civil Service would be formally announced through the appropriate government channels, such as the Rivers State Civil Service Commission, and not through anonymous or unverified social media accounts.
She cautioned job seekers to remain vigilant and avoid engaging with unofficial websites or individuals who might attempt to exploit the false announcement to perpetrate fraud or collect money under false pretenses.
�Let it be clear that the Rivers State Government takes the issue of employment seriously, and when the time is right, any plans regarding recruitment will be communicated transparently and officially,� Brown added. �We urge the public to always verify any such announcements through the official communication platforms of the state government before taking any action.�
Dr. Brown also used the opportunity to warn fraudsters who might be behind the viral misinformation, stating that relevant authorities are closely monitoring the situation and will not hesitate to take legal action against anyone found spreading false information intended to mislead or defraud the public.
The Rivers State Government reiterated its commitment to transparency, due process, and responsible governance, assuring the public that all future recruitment exercises would be conducted in accordance with laid-down procedures, and in a manner that reflects fairness, equity, and merit
