A total of 19 directors from the Federal Civil Service have failed the qualifying examination for the position of permanent secretary, according to an update from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).
The exam was part of a rigorous process aimed at filling vacancies in the Federal Civil Service, particularly in eight states.
The process, which was initiated in October 2024, involves multiple stages. After the first examination stage, only 19 of the 38 directors who sat for the test passed and will advance to the second stage, which focuses on testing their proficiency in Information Communication and Technology (ICT).
This second round of exams will take place on November 13, 2024.
According to Eno Olotu, the Director of Press at OHCSF, the final stage of the selection process will involve an interview before a panel of senior bureaucrats and private sector representatives, scheduled for November 15, 2024.
This development comes after a memo issued by Didi Walson-Jack, the Head of Civil Service, outlined that officials under disciplinary review were barred from applying for the permanent secretary roles.
The appointment process, which received approval from President Bola Tinubu, is seen as part of the government’s commitment to transparent and merit-based appointments in the civil service.
