Two hundred and twenty-two of the 300 directors from ministries, department and agencies of the federal government MDAs who sat for examinations to fill 20 vacant positions of federal permanent secretaries failed.

Of the 300 that sat for the examination on “Relevant Public Service and Policy Issues” held at National Defence College (NDC) Auditorium, Abuja on Monday only 78 passed. 

The successful candidates yesterday sat for the second level “Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Assessment Test” held at the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) Utako, Abuja.  

The 78 directors will today attend the third and final level “Oral Interview/Interactive Session” at Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation in Abuja. 

The week-long exercise was announced in separate memos by Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office (CMO) in the Office of Head of Service of the Federation (OHoCSF) Mrs Folasade Yemi-Esan. 

Daily Trust reporters who visited the centre saw the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF) Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita leading the technical committee and other federal officers to supervise yesterday’s Computer Based Test (CBT) exercise. 

In line with the Federal Character Principle one permanent secretary is appointed per state as well as Federal Capital Territory (FCT). 

The states which successful candidates will represent as permanent secretaries are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross-River, Delta, Edo and Ekiti, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto and the FCT. 

The change in policy for the federal permanent secretaries to write examinations is said to be part of the resolutions of National Council on Establishment (NEC) held July 2016 in Minna, Niger State. 

Senate probes exams

Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday mandated its committee on Establishment and Public Service to probe the ongoing examinations, after a point of order was raised by Senator Philip Aduda (PDP, FCT) on exclusion of three directors who sat for the examination. 

Citing an exclusive report in Daily Trust on the examination, Aduda said the three directors sat for the examination alongside their colleagues but that their names were omitted. 

“Three directors from FCT wrote the exams and they were supposed to be called but their names were somehow removed. I therefore seek the intervention of the Senate to ensure that FCT is not omitted in line with the federal character, “he said. 

Senate President Bukola Saraki asked the committee chaired by Senator Emmanuel Paulker (PDP, Bayelsa) to immediately look into the matter. 

Daily Trust