Federal & State Jobs In Nigeria: Requirements And How To Apply (2024)

Finding employment in the federal or state government sector is difficult, rigorous, and demanding. The fact that there aren’t enough jobs in Nigeria defines the scenario. Nigeria has a very high unemployment rate. Approximately 70% of graduates in Nigeria are unemployed, which makes getting employed an uphill task.

Before you start seeking for job in Nigeria’s federal or state government agencies, you must first define the type of job you want. Are you considering a contract appointment with the federal or state government? Are you considering a job or appointment in the federal or state government? Or do you want to be recruited into the federal or state government’s core civil service? If you desire to join the federal public service, it means you are looking to be appointed to any of the federal government agencies or parastatals that do not include the core federal or state civil service, which is housed in the ministries. The public sector is located in the agencies and the parastatals.

There are numerous employment opportunities in Nigerian government agencies, both in federal and state agencies. However, to be considered for instant employment, you must first grasp the recruiting techniques used by the government in charge.

This article is intended to serve as a guide for employment prospects. It will reveal some of the tactics you can employ in your application procedure. It will also inform you of the requirements necessary for a position that you are interested in.

First, what is the difference between a federal and a state job? A federal job is one provided by the federal government, whereas a state job is one created by the state government as well. So, if you make money through federal or state employment, you are considered an employee of the federal or state government, respectively.

Types of Federal And State Government Jobs

Federal and state jobs are in categories and that is what will be discussed in this section. There are three main categories of government-provided jobs. These are:

1. Public service jobs: These are jobs developed to ensure that any government’s plans and programs are carried out at any given moment. Public servants are often appointed, and the conditions for becoming a public servant vary. Examples of public service positions include the governor’s office, the commissioners of several ministries, and so on. There are openings in both the state and federal governments for these positions.
2. Civil Service Jobs: These are jobs that are created to provide a service to the citizens of a country. They are usually grouped into parastatals and fall under the supervision of ministries. Teaching employment, security service bodies, and so on are examples of these jobs.
3. Contract Jobs: These are contract-based roles in which someone is hired for a certain task and for a set length of time. Examples are road contractors.

However, in this post, we shall focus primarily on securing employment in the Nigerian federal civil service and state civil service employment.

APPLICATIONS FOR FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT POSITIONS

The federal or state government of Nigeria first advertises job openings. A vacancy must first be declared, and then it must be published in the national media of publication. Some of these jobs are not publicly known; instead, they are publicized internally. This means that the agency is looking for people who are currently employed; they want people who have gained experience and knowledge while working for the federal government.

When the government declares a vacancy externally, it targets school leavers and youngsters who have completed their national youth service. A website is then created. Aspiring applicants who wish to apply for the roles made available by the federal or state government would be expected to go through these websites to apply and upload their curriculum vitae and other requested documents. Requirements will be outlined later in this article.

Requirements Needed to be Considered for Employment

The prerequisites for consideration for employment in state or federal government agencies can vary depending on what you are applying for. Some positions may necessitate a higher degree of education or a specific field of study. For example, to work as a health practitioner at a government hospital, you must be aware of health and wellness issues.

However, regardless of the field to which you are applying, there are general standards that must be demanded. These requirements are outlined below.

1. To begin with, you must be a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to be considered for work in Nigerian federal or state government institutions. Citizenship can be obtained by birth or heredity.
2. To be eligible for immediate employment, applicants must have completed basic education. As previously said, the level of education required for employment is entirely dependent on the position or role for which you are applying. Completing basic education, on the other hand, is required.
3. Applicants must be adults. As a result, applicants must be over the age of eighteen (18) years old. Some occupations, similar to the educational criteria above, may need older applicants who are over eighteen. However, applicants must also be under the age of thirty (30).
4. Candidates must be physically fit. In several government areas, the applicant’s physique is factored into the equation. For example, consider the Nigerian police and the Nigerian army. Physical fitness is fundamental in general.
5. Applicants must be super healthy. Applicants’ health will be checked in general before they are selected for work. This health check is performed for both physical and mental wellbeing. An applicant will not be considered for employment if they are healthy in one but not in the other. To work efficiently, you must be in good enough health to withstand the pressure of the job you are applying for.
6. Applicants must be able to work under pressure and deliver on time.
7. The applicant should be versatile, knowledgeable, and have a strong drive.
8. Having outstanding interpersonal abilities is an added advantage.
9. The lifestyles of other nationalities should be of interest to the applicant.
10. The applicant must be able to communicate effectively in English. Nigeria is one of the world’s most varied countries, with over 500 languages spoken by the population. However, English is an official language spoken by most Nigerians, and this is used to communicate broadly. In order to qualify for immediate employment, an applicant must be a fluent English speaker.
11. Communicating in foreign languages like French, Chinese, and so on is also an added advantage. So, if you speak and understand foreign languages like the one outlined above, feel free to add them to your curriculum vitae.

How to Apply for Federal & State Government Jobs In Nigeria

As we stated above, when there is a vacancy in either a state or federal government agency, it will be publicized by media outlets. Then a website will be created for candidates to apply. You have to be time-conscious because there is always a deadline for every aspiring candidate to apply. If you do not apply before the deadline, you will have to wait until there is another vacancy advertised, and of course, it won’t come soon.

Step 1 – Candidates are expected to fill in their information correctly on the application website.

Step 2 – You will also be expected to upload the required documents accordingly. These documents must be neatly scanned so that the details contained within them appear clearly.

Note ⇒ The documents required by federal or state government agencies may vary depending on the position a candidate is applying for. However, some documents are compulsory for an applicant to provide, irrespective of the position and sector being applied for.

Those documents include;

1. Passport photographs (a softcopy or scanned copy if applying through a website).
2. First School Leaving Certificate (FSCL).
3. A letter from your local government
4. Your birth certificate
5. A valid identification card (NIMC card, voter’s card, and international passport are all accepted. If you have everything, you should only choose one).
6. Higher educational certificates (WAEC/NECO/GCE, OND, HND, B.SC, B.ED, BA, M.SC, PHD, and so on)
7. Proof of address (utility bills like light bills are accepted).
8. Curriculum Vitae.
9. Resume
10. NYSC certificate

Step 4 – As previously stated, these documents should be scanned and uploaded to the website while you are applying.

Step 5 – If any further documents are necessary, you will be informed which ones to supply on the application page.

Step 6 – Once you have completed your application, you are expected to submit it immediately.

You will be contacted for an interview if you are qualified for the position you applied for. In some sectors, you will be seated for an aptitude test. If you qualify for the position you applied for, you will be contacted to come and sit for the aptitude test. If you pass the aptitude test, you will be contacted for an interview and then your employment letter will be handed over to you.

If you follow these guidelines and apply for any federal or state job openings in any of these government agencies, the chances of your being successfully employed will be high. Be positive, be confident and do not relent. Good luck!