In a surprising shake-up within Nigeria’s civil service, 18 federal directors have failed to meet the required benchmark in the highly competitive Permanent Secretary qualifying examination. Out of 29 senior officials who sat for the test, only 11 managed to score above the 50% threshold, securing their place in the next stage of the selection process.
This revelation was contained in a memo signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Gabriel Aduda, on behalf of the examination committee. According to the memo, the successful candidates will proceed to the next round of assessment, scheduled for Wednesday, February 12, 2025.
The Nigerian government, through the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, had previously announced the commencement of the rigorous selection process aimed at filling vacant permanent secretary positions across various ministries.
A separate memo, signed by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, outlined key eligibility criteria, barring officials under disciplinary investigation from applying. It further confirmed that President Bola Tinubu personally approved the appointment process.
Additionally, the document reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding the Federal Character principle by ensuring that only candidates from designated states were eligible to participate.
This development raises questions about the competence of Nigeria’s top bureaucrats, as nearly two-thirds of the applicants failed to meet the required standard. It also underscores the government’s push for a merit-based selection process in a civil service often criticized for inefficiency and political favoritism.
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