3,391 civil servants to write promotion examinations

The Chairman of the Kaduna State Civil Service Commission, Sule Allahbamulafiya, says no fewer than 3,391 civil servants will sit for promotion examinations in the state on Tuesday.

Allahbamulafiya said this during a media parley with newsmen on Monday in Kaduna at the commission’s complex.

He said that Gov. Uba Sani has approved the conduct of the 2023 and 2024 promotion exercises simultaneously.

According to him, this is in order to reward the diligent efforts and dedication of public servants, thereby enhancing their morale and motivation.

He explained that the examination was to clear the backlog of the outstanding promotions in the core civil service, which would involve 3,391 officers.

Allahbamulafiya emphasised that the commission considers merit in recruitment and promotion, while also taking into cognisance representation from the 23 LGAs of the state, gender and persons with disabilities.

He disclosed that the commission recently took certain fundamental decisions with a view to ensuring efficiency in the state’s civil service.

Allahbamulafiya said the decisions included the introduction of an aptitude test for the applicants wishing to join the state civil service.

They also included the recruitment of personnel to fill vacant and newly created offices, revocation of delegated powers (GL. 01-06) to MDAs and returning to the commission to curtail abuse by some MDAs.

The chairman also said the commission has engaged consultants for the conduct of the examinations which are now to be computer- based (CBT), however deferring it to 2025 due to the exigencies of time.

Allahbamulafiya added that the commission introduced a 50 per cent pass mark in the examinations before qualifying for an oral promotion interview.

It has also approved an upward review of the overall pass marks in promotion, both written and oral, from 60 per cent to 70 per cent for directorate level officers.

Speaking further, Allahbamulafiya said the commission would promptly consider and dispose disciplinary cases, allotting eight weeks as the maximum time frame for dispensing disciplinary cases.

He added that the commission adopted the Employee Performance Management System (EPMS) to replace the Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER).

This, he said, was to ensure that the promotion was based on merit and not just a mere routine.

Speaking on lingering disciplinary cases involving officers accused of gross misconduct, he said, nine officers were dismissed while two were compulsorily retired.

He equally said five officers were demoted while 10 were seriously warned.

The chairman restated the commission’s commitment to remaining steadfast in ensuring that effective civil service was put in place in the state to crystalise the ‘SUSTAIN AGENDA’ of the state government.