The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has begun the process of appointing five Permanent Secretaries, following the approval of President Bola Tinubu.
The positions include two vacancies created by the recent retirement of Permanent Secretaries from Imo State and the Federal Capital Territory, and three zonal vacancies for North-Central, North-East and South-East, arising from the creation of new ministries.
The Head of Civil Service, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, stated that the process is designed to ensure transparency, credibility and merit in line with the government’s commitment to good governance, with only qualified officers on Grade Level 17 who have spent at least two years on the grade and have been cleared by their Permanent Secretaries as not facing disciplinary action being eligible.
The exercise began with the compilation and screening of eligible officers by a Committee of Permanent Secretaries, monitored by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Department of State Services, while candidates also completed asset declaration forms with the Code of Conduct Bureau, and clearances from EFCC, ICPC and DSS are ongoing.
The written examination will be held on September 15 at a Federal Government facility, successful candidates will proceed to an ICT proficiency test on September 17, and the final stage, an oral interview, will be held on September 19 and will be conducted by a panel of serving and retired Permanent Secretaries, former Heads of Service, the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission and representatives of the private sector, with anti-corruption agencies also observing the process.
