Fact-Check: Kogi State Government Is Not Recruiting 20,000 Workers, Contrary to Social Media Claims

BY: Mustapha Lawal

Claim

Kogi State Government has announced plans to recruit 20,000 workers across ministries and agencies in June 2025.

Verdict

False! There is no evidence supporting claims that Kogi State is planning to hire 20,000 workers. The state government has officially denied the rumour, describing it as “false and deliberately misleading.”

Background

Several social media posts, particularly on Facebook, have claimed that the Kogi State Government under Governor Usman Ododo plans to recruit 20,000 workers in June 2025. These posts have gained attention, especially given Nigeria’s high unemployment rate and the public’s interest in government job opportunities.

One of the earliest posts, dated 7 May 2025, reads: “Breaking News: The Kogi State Government has announced plans to recruit 20,000 workers across various ministries and agencies next month.” Other versions of the same message have been shared widely, with many praising the governor for what they believe to be a major employment initiative.

Kogi State, like many other Nigerian states, has faced calls to create jobs and improve public service delivery. The claim has appeared in multiple Facebook posts, including here and here. Given the socio-economic context in Kogi and similar regions, such a claim can generate hope and urgency among job-seeking youth.

Verification

FactCheckAfrica searched the official Kogi State Government website, as well as its verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, and found no job announcement or recruitment-related press release. Similarly, there were no reports from credible Nigerian news outlets confirming any such plan. 

All references to the claim can be traced back to unofficial and unverified social media posts. The absence of documentation or media coverage of such a significant development strongly suggests that the claim is not authentic.

In response to the viral claim, the Kogi State Government, through its Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, issued a formal denial. He described the posts as “false, unfounded, and deliberately misleading.” According to Fanwo, there is no recruitment plan to hire 20,000 civil servants in June 2025 or any time soon.

The government statement also cited economic realities, including fiscal limitations, as one of the reasons a large-scale employment programme is not being pursued at this time. It warned members of the public not to fall for fraudulent schemes or misinformation that could result in financial or emotional exploitation. While Governor Ododo has spoken publicly about his administration’s commitment to economic development and youth empowerment, no official recruitment drive of this scale has been declared.

The government’s official rebuttal and the lack of any supporting evidence confirm that no such employment initiative is underway. Despite ongoing public interest in job creation, no specific recruitment figures or timelines have been communicated by the government. 

Conclusion

The claim that the Kogi State Government is planning to recruit 20,000 workers across various ministries and agencies in June 2025 is false. The government has clearly stated that it is not conducting such a recruitment exercise, warning citizens to disregard misleading posts and rely solely on verified information from official channels.

False announcements about government jobs can mislead the public, raise false hopes, and expose desperate job seekers to scams. Citizens are encouraged to always confirm employment opportunities through official platforms and reputable news sources before taking action.