The Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) has said 5,792 civil servants have so far sat for this year’s Directorate Cadre Promotion Examination conducted through the Computer-Based Testing (CBT) system across the country.
FCSC’s Chairman, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, announced this yesterday after inspecting eight examination centres in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where he assessed the conduct of the exercise.
Olaopa said the commission had planned for about 5,900 candidates for the examination, which was decentralised across the six geopolitical zones to improve accessibility and reduce the logistical burden on eligible officers.
The FCSC chairman said the FCT recorded the highest number of candidates, partly because of its accessibility to civil servants from neighbouring states, including Kogi and Niger.
He described the adoption of CBT as a major improvement in administering the promotion examinations in the Federal Public Service, saying the system has proved easier to administer than the previous manual process.
According to him, CBT will also enhance standardisation, transparency and efficiency in assessing the candidates.
‘Based on the experience so far, the CBT has proved considerably easier to administer than the previous manual system,’ Olaopa said.
The FCSC chairman stated that about 97 per cent of candidates arrived at their examination centres on time, adding that the few cases of late arrival were appropriately managed.
He said the exercise recorded only minor operational challenges, including initial internet connectivity problems at some centres.
Olaopa stated that the FCSC provided an alternative candidate identification code to enable affected candidates to access the examination without prolonged delays.
The FCSC chairman also said arrangements were in place to accommodate candidates with visual and physical challenges.
He said the FCSC worked with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to make necessary adjustments for candidates who had special requirements but had not communicated them ahead of the examination.
Commenting on concerns expressed over computer literacy among the candidates, Olaopa explained that the examination platform was designed to be simple and user-friendly, requiring only basic navigation skills.
He added that demonstration materials were provided ahead of the examination to familiarise candidates with the CBT platform.
Olaopa urged civil servants to improve their digital skills, noting that the increasing digitalisation of government operations made basic computer competency increasingly important.
He also reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the promotion process and preventing manipulation or undue interference.
According to him, the FCSC has a responsibility to ensure that career progression in the Federal Civil Service is based on merit, competence and demonstrable performance.
He said the commission’s broader reform agenda was aimed at strengthening competency-based human resource management in the Public Service.
The chairman said the FCSC had learnt from the previous examination, noting that it rated the conduct of the 2025 exercise at about 68 per cent.
He expressed satisfaction with this year’s examination, putting its performance so far at not less than 90 per cent.
Olaopa identified logistics, network dependence, examination question-setting and other operational processes as areas requiring further improvement.
He praised the candidates, examination officials, JAMB, and other stakeholders for their cooperation, stressing that the commission would continue to improve the examination process to make it more accessible, efficient and credible.
Olaopa added that promotion in the Federal Civil Service must continue to reflect competence, merit and professional development.