In a significant move to tackle unemployment and modernize public sector recruitment, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has officially launched a comprehensive digital jobs portal. The initiative aims to fill 10,000 positions across the state’s ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), marking a pivotal shift towards transparent and technology-driven governance.
Governor Mohammed unveiled the portal on Friday, December 12, 2025, during a crucial stakeholders’ meeting convened to guide the recruitment process. He emphasized that the session was designed to ensure fairness, stating, “I invited you because the Head of Service has produced a template and briefed us on the employment of 10,000 so far. I need your contributions so we can act with justice and equity. We cannot allocate vacancies for political expediency.” This call for stakeholder oversight highlights a conscious effort to move away from patronage-based hiring, a chronic issue in many public sectors.
The portal’s launch has already generated substantial public engagement. According to the governor, “many citizens had already applied,” with interest coming from “every council” in the state. The initial data reveals a detailed breakdown: there are currently 214 distinct job types spread across 18 MDAs, constituting 5,669 immediate vacancies. This specificity allows applicants to target roles matching their skills, from technical and administrative positions to professional and artisanal jobs.
A critical point of context is the gap between the announced 10,000 jobs and the 5,669 current vacancies. Governor Mohammed clarified this, assuring that applicants not selected in this first phase “would be considered next year.” This suggests a phased, multi-year employment strategy, likely tied to budgetary cycles and strategic workforce planning. For job seekers, this means the portal may serve as a persistent talent database for future state government recruitment drives, not just a one-time application window.
The governor’s explicit request for stakeholder guidance on a “transparent process” addresses a deep-seated public concern. In many regions, government job recruitment is often clouded by allegations of nepotism and opacity. By leveraging a digital portal and involving community stakeholders, Bauchi State is attempting to institute verifiable checks and balances. This model, if successfully implemented, could set a precedent for other states, demonstrating how technology can enhance accountability in public administration.
For residents of Bauchi, the practical implications are profound. The portal centralizes opportunity, potentially reducing the cost and inconvenience of job seeking. It also creates a clear, documented application trail, empowering candidates. The success of this initiative will ultimately hinge on the integrity of the shortlisting and selection process that follows the digital application. Governor Mohammed’s closing plea for an “equitable and accountable recruitment plan” underscores that the portal is merely a tool; its value will be determined by the principled human actions behind it. This development represents more than a jobs announcement; it is a test case for digital governance and equitable economic participation in Nigeria’s state-level politics.
Reported by Olaide Ayinde for the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Edited by Yinusa Ishola and Kamal Tayo Oropo.
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