The governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal Paul Malong Awan has called on youths to turn up for a registration drive for job opportunities in the national organized forces, rather than sitting idle and jobless.

He is reported to have addressed invited students at a rally in Aweil town, the capital of Northern Bahr al Ghazal, calling on them to accept jobs now offered by the government.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, the state minister of information Jackline Nyibol Ajong explained the governor’s message to the youth. Asked whether the governor “made a call for primary and secondary students today,” the minister replied, “Yes, the governor was calling those who completed their secondary school and did not manage to proceed for one reason or another.”

“So the governor says that those who have their certificates should write their names and the governor is going to take these names with him to Juba, and look for them places in the areas of police, prisons, wildlife, and so forth,” she added.

For youths without experience, this is a good opportunity, she explained, saying that some of them will be given scholarships to go and study. Government scholarships are only awarded to government officials, said Nyibol, explaining that current government officials are too senior to benefit from such scholarships.

“Of course, you know that we do not have youth in many fields in South Sudan – I mean those who can be taken for upgrading so that they can come and work, because those who are already working may have enough experience and they may not need to go for a scholarship of two years, for example, for diploma or degree in the field he already works in,” explained the minister.

Citing the governor, Nyibol emphasized that the program was nationwide, not only for Northern Bahr el-Ghazal. She noted that the civil service is full and the waiting list for Juba University is quite long. There have been people who have been waiting to join the university for three years, she pointed out, saying that military training is therefore a better alternative for such people.

“The civil service is full. It is occupied. It is full. I do not think there are vacancies in the civil service. As you know, the civil service is limited; for example, in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal we have 7000 workers, and we cannot increase the number because the budget is actually permanent and does not change. Therefore if we want to employ people it has to be in other fields,” Nyibol remarked.

However, the minister on Tuesday also clarified to Radio Tamazuj that the governor intended the recruitment only for those students who completed their primary and secondary certificates a long time ago and are now without jobs. She said that the governor does not mean the current students.

Earlier mention of primary students referred only to “those of primary level who possess old certificates, not the pupils who sat last year or year before: those who sat a long time ago and possess certificates but did not manage to go to secondary to study and did not get a job, for example, for whatever reason,” said Nyibol.

Meanwhile, in neighboring Western Bahr al Ghazal state, the recruitment drive is described as progressing well, with plans to open a training centre at Gette because it is close to the river for the recruits to easily access water while undergoing basic military training.

Jur River County Commissioner John Arop Apai said they registered 1,237 youths in 17 areas and continue to mobilize more in the remaining 5 areas, Voice of Hope reported.

State Assembly Speaker Andrea Mayar Acho was quoted as expressing gratitude to the local chiefs and elders in the area for responding positively to the national call to service. He was speaking at a public rally on Sunday at Dakou area between Western and Northern Bahr El Ghazal States.

Photo: President Salva Kiir, Governor Paul Malong (blue suit) and Cabinet Affairs Minister Martin Lomuro (black suit) during a public rally in September 2013 (NASS/Thomas Keneth)