With President Bola Tinubu’s assent, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has begun the process of selecting five new permanent secretaries.
The vacancies include three zonal slots for the North-Central, North-East, and South-East regions that were created following the creation of new ministries, as well as two that resulted from the recent retirement of permanent secretaries from Imo State and the Federal Capital Territory, according to Head of Service Didi Walson-Jack.
According to a statement made public by Eno Olotu, the OHCSF’s Director of Information and Public Relations, the hiring procedure was designed to ensure merit, transparency, and credibility in keeping with the government’s commitment to good governance.
Only directors on Grade Level 17 who had been on the grade for at least two years and who had been given the all-clear by their permanent secretaries that they would not be subject to disciplinary action were eligible to apply, according to Walson-Jack.
The Committee of Permanent Secretaries, under the supervision of the Department of State Services and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission, compiled and screened eligible personnel at the start of the exercise, she noted.
“As clearances from the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS are still pending, candidates also filled out asset declaration forms with the Code of Conduct Bureau,” she stated.
Exam, Oral Interview Set, and ICT Test
The HOS announced that on September 15, shortlisted officers would take a written exam, and on September 17, they would take an ICT proficiency test.
A panel made up of current and former permanent secretaries, heads of service, the chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, and representatives from the corporate sector will perform the final step, an oral interview, on September 19.
The procedure will also be watched by anti-corruption organizations. Walson-Jack emphasized that the President will be asked to approve the final proposals.
Tinubu appointed 26 permanent secretaries. President Tinubu has so far recruited no fewer than 26 permanent secretaries since taking office, according to observations.
Eight were sworn in in November 2023 and eight more in June 2024.
Two additional secretaries were confirmed in March 2025, and eight more were appointed in December 2024.
Walson-Jack claims that the experiment demonstrates the administration’s commitment to bolstering professionalism, expanding institutional capacity, and improving civil service service delivery.
