The Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation has announced that 19 of the 38 eligible directors who sat for the first stage of the three-stage assessment for appointing new Permanent Secretaries on Monday, November 11, 2024, failed.

19 others, according to a statement from the Office of the HCSF, scaled through this first stage of the assessment, which is a written examination, and will be participating in the second stage.

The next stage of the assessment will test their competence in the use of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) in conducting government business on Wednesday, November 13, 2024.

The statement, signed by Eno Olotu (Mrs), Head, Information and Public Relations, said, “This three-stage exercise follows the established tradition of a transparent and rigorous process, deliberately made to ensure the very best among the candidates are appointed.”

The statement added, “Successful candidates would then proceed to the final stage to appear before a carefully constituted panel of top bureaucrats and representatives of the organized private sector on Friday, November 15, 2024.”

“This process would culminate in Mr. President’s appointment from the best candidates representing the eight states of Abia, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Rivers—where vacancies exist.”

“The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation congratulates all the 38 candidates and appreciates the continued support of the Nigerian public in entrenching meritocracy in career progression in the Civil Service.”

19 of 38 directors fail Permanent Secretary qualifying exam – HoS