On Wednesday, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) administered the 2024 confirmation and promotion examination to 12,444 Federal Public Service officers countrywide.
The Computer-Based Test (CBT) examination, conducted in partnership with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), was held in 44 CBT centres across the country. In total, 2,324 officers took part in the examination in the FCT.
Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, claimed that the online examination is consistent with the government’s digitisation policy, which requires all people to be computer literate.
Walson-Jack, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Common Services Office, Mr. Raymond Omachi, monitored the exercise at numerous centres in Abuja. She commended JAMB for the seamless examination process.
Speaking with journalists at a center located at the National Institute for Security Studies (NIS), Abuja, the Head of Service said: “From what we have observed, the process is seamless, and everything is going well. The first set of officers has already completed their examination. This is the second round we have come to see.”
“I want to thank JAMB for the seamless exercise. They took us to their server room and showed us how they are monitoring the process in real-time. Everything will be transparent. We are using this online process to ensure transparency.”
“For you to be relevant in today’s public service under the digitization program, you must have digital skills; you must be computer literate. There is no place for those who are not computer literate. Those who are not yet in that position need to up their game. There are programs in place to train officers who are not yet computer literate,” she stated.
B-Usman Fumilola, JAMB’s Acting Director of Information Technology Services, stated that the examination was conducted without a hitch in all 44 centres nationwide.
Fatima Mahmood, Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, emphasised the importance of the confirmation examination in advancing a public servant’s career. She said that, under public service standards, some officials who have served for two years are now eligible for confirmation.
She also stated that the examination is held in collaboration with JAMB because of its track record and commitment to upholding meritocracy and integrity in the process.
Mahmood also mentioned that the government is focused on building skill sets in line with the digitization policy necessary to function as a world-class public service.
According to her, JAMB has introduced measures such as CCTV cameras and randomised questions to discourage copying, all to enhance transparency and avoid examination malpractice.