Irregularities Mar The Just Concluded Federal Permanent Secretary Exam

Report: Wednesday, March 23, 2023. Lagos, Nigeria.

There are reports that the just concluded Federal Permanent Secretary examination was marred by irregularities, where candidates reported that the computer systems were programmed to have computer glitch(malfunctions). 

Some of the candidates from some of the states protested the matter and petitioned the Federal Civil Service.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were invited to investigate the matter and they did confirm the irregularities. 

However, only those that petitioned have now been given the opportunity to rewrite leaving out other candidates who faced the same issues during the exam only because they were not mentioned in the petition. 

Where as the issue of irregularity due to computer malfunction was said to have been reported to EFCC and ICPC who also confirmed that not only were their computer glitches during the exam but there was system manipulations designed to work against some of the candidates. 

The affected candidates, some of whom have already petitioned the Head of Service are now calling for the outright cancellation of the federal permanent secretary exams in-order to establish fairness.

It is alleged that politicians are offering bribes to cheat qualified candidates in order to push forward their unqualified candidates. This move has led to grievances from the affected candidates who are now asking that the examination be retaken under a malpractice free condition.

Recall that the Head of Service, Dr. Yemi-Esan had issued a circular announcing the process of appointment of Permanent Secretaries in November 2021. The exercise was to involve nine Nigerian states including; Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Jigawa, Plateau, Sokoto and Taraba state.