The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) has started the process to appoint five new permanent secretaries, with the approval of President Bola Tinubu.
This initiative aims to fill five vacant positions: two from the recent retirements of permanent secretaries representing Imo State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and three new rotational zonal vacancies.
These new positions were created following the establishment of additional ministries and will be filled by candidates from the North-Central, North-East, and South-East geopolitical zones.
The Head of the Civil Service, Didi Walson-Jack in a statement on Monday, stated that the selection process has been designed to be transparent and merit-based, in line with the administration’s commitment to good governance.
Walson-Jack said only qualified officers on Grade Level 17 with at least two years of experience in that role are eligible to apply.
She said the process began with a screening and verification exercise conducted by a committee of permanent secretaries, with monitoring from anti-corruption agencies like the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS).
According to her, the selected candidates are now moving to the next phase, which includes a written examination scheduled to begin today, September 15, 2025, at a secure government facility.
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She said successful candidates from the written exam will undergo an ICT proficiency test on Wednesday, September 17.
Walson-Jack noted that the final stage will be a comprehensive oral interview on Friday, September 19, conducted by a distinguished panel of experienced public servants and private sector representatives, with anti-corruption agencies observing.
Walson-Jack reiterated that the initiative reflects the government’s dedication to strengthening institutional capacity, promoting professionalism, and ensuring merit-based leadership within the public service to improve service delivery and drive national development.
