President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially approved the elevation of 11 directors, who are part of the 19 candidates selected for the final stage of the permanent secretaries’ qualifying examination. This development, which follows a rigorous selection process, was confirmed in a memo issued by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).

According to a report by Gists9ja, this confirmation comes after the initial stages of a highly competitive process aimed at filling vacancies for permanent secretaries across various federal government ministries. The announcement also highlights the continued efforts of the Tinubu administration to ensure that capable and qualified individuals are appointed to crucial civil service positions.

The process began earlier in October when the Federal Government, through the OHCSF, initiated the appointment procedure for new permanent secretaries, focusing on addressing vacancies in eight states. A memorandum issued by the OHCSF and signed by Didi Walson-Jack, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, outlined the terms for the selection. Notably, the memo specified that individuals under any form of disciplinary action would be ineligible to apply for the permanent secretary roles, ensuring the integrity of the recruitment process.

The official memo from the OHCSF, signed by Dr. Emmanuel Meribole on behalf of the examination committee, announced that the 11 directors, who had excelled in the initial stages of the examination, were invited to the next phase. The document read: “The under-listed eleven (11) candidates are invited to the oral interview stage of the process for the appointment of Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service, following their successful performance in Stages I and II of the exercise.”

Initially, 38 directors participated in the first stage of the process. Out of these, 19 directors advanced to the second stage, and following their exceptional performance, 11 directors were shortlisted for the final stage. These individuals are now set to face the oral interview, a critical step before the formal appointments are made.

This move is seen as part of President Tinubu’s ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency of the federal bureaucracy and fill critical leadership positions within the civil service. Upon completion of the recruitment process, it is expected that President Tinubu will officially announce the newly appointed permanent secretaries.

The process of selecting permanent secretaries has always been highly anticipated due to the significant role these individuals play in the day-to-day operations of government ministries and the implementation of key national policies. With the current stage of the recruitment process nearing completion, all eyes are on the final appointments, which are expected to be revealed once the interview process concludes.