The Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) announced that 19 out of 38 directors who sat for the first stage of the three-stage assessment for Permanent Secretary appointments on Monday, November 11, 2024, did not pass. A statement from the HCSF revealed that 19 other candidates successfully cleared the initial round, a written examination, and will proceed to the next phase.

The second stage, set for Wednesday, November 13, 2024, will evaluate the candidates’ proficiency in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to determine their readiness for modern government operations. Eno Olotu, Head of Information and Public Relations, noted that this rigorous, transparent assessment process aims to ensure only the most qualified candidates advance.

Candidates who successfully pass the ICT stage will proceed to the final phase on Friday, November 15, 2024, where they will be interviewed by a panel consisting of top civil servants and private sector representatives. This final stage will help select the best candidates from the eight states with vacancies: Abia, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Rivers.

The Head of the Civil Service congratulated all 38 participants and expressed gratitude for public support in upholding merit-based career progression within the Civil Service. This three-stage assessment exemplifies the government’s commitment to transparent and merit-driven appointments in the Nigerian Civil Service.