The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Professor Tunji Olaopa, has assured civil servants sitting for the 2025 Directorate Level Promotion Examination of the Commission’s commitment to reducing inconveniences associated with the new Computer-Based Test (CBT) format.
In a statement issued on Monday, Professor Olaopa appealed for understanding from candidates participating in the exercise, acknowledging concerns raised over logistical challenges and preparation difficulties.
He noted that while the transition from manual examinations to CBT represents a major innovation in the Commission’s promotion process, it also comes with certain initial hurdles for both the FCSC and candidates.
“Transition from manual examinations to CBT comes with its attendant hurdles both for FCSC and the candidates,” the statement read.
Olaopa explained that the Commission decided to leverage JAMB facilities in Abuja for the conduct of the 2025 directorate-level exams to ensure credibility, transparency, and integrity in the process. He, however, acknowledged that the current arrangement may pose difficulties for some candidates traveling from other parts of the country.
“As the Commission leverages JAMB facilities for the conduct of the 2025 Directorate Levels CBT examination, we are not only concerned about the credibility and transparency of the process, but also the convenience of the candidates,” he said.
Responding to public feedback and social media concerns, the FCSC Chairman announced that the Commission is considering decentralizing examination centers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in future exercises. He added that the Commission would also explore technology-enabled innovations to make subsequent exams smoother and more accessible.
Professor Olaopa reaffirmed the FCSC’s commitment to fairness, efficiency, and modernization in Nigeria’s civil service system, assuring candidates that lessons learned from the 2025 exercise would inform improvements in future promotion examinations.