President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment process for five new Permanent Secretaries to fill existing vacancies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Imo State, and three newly created zonal positions in the North-Central, North-East, and South-East geopolitical zones.
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) announced in a statement on Monday that the selection exercise began with a written examination. According to the Director of Information and Public Relations, Mrs. Eno Olotu, the new zonal vacancies follow the establishment of additional ministries.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, assured that the process was designed to be transparent and merit-based, in line with the administration’s commitment to good governance.
She explained that applications were restricted to officers on Grade 17 who had served at least two years on the rank and whose names were cleared by their Permanent Secretaries as not facing any disciplinary action.
Eligible officers were screened by a committee of Permanent Secretaries alongside the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Code of Conduct Bureau, while anti-corruption clearance from the EFCC is ongoing.
Successful candidates from the written test will face an ICT proficiency assessment on Wednesday, September 17, before proceeding to a final oral interview on Friday. The interview panel will include the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, serving and retired Permanent Secretaries, former Heads of the Civil Service, private sector representatives, and a professional body. Final recommendations will be forwarded to the President for approval.
Meanwhile, the President has also approved the assignment of portfolios to five Executive Directors on the Board of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC). The appointees are Hajia Biliquis Jumoke Sanni (Administration & Human Resources), Aisha Rufai Ibrahim (Commercial and Industrial Development), James Abel Uloko (Corporate Services), Prof. Muhammad Bashar (Finance), and Princess Atika Ajanah (Projects).
In a statement, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, through its Director of Information and Public Relations, Segun Imohiosen, said the President urged the new directors to work with the NCDC governing board to drive the sustainable development of the North-Central region.
