The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) has announced the commencement of the appointment process for new Permanent Secretaries and the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, reaffirmed her commitment to a transparent, merit-driven, and rigorous selection process.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Mrs. Eno Olotu, the Head of Service indicated that the two vacant positions for Permanent Secretaries arose from the recent retirement of the Permanent Secretary from Oyo State and an impending vacancy in the North-West Geopolitical Zone.
She added that the position of Accountant-General of the Federation would become vacant upon the retirement of the incumbent in March 2025, noting that the process follows the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Walson-Jack stated that, to ensure the appointment of only qualified, credible, and competent individuals, the selection process would follow a structured and multi-tiered evaluation, as approved by the President.
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The process is open to all serving Grade Level 17 officers in the mainstream Federal Civil Service who have held their current position for at least two (2) years and have expressed interest in participating.
According to the statement, candidates must meet several eligibility criteria, including screening and confirmation by their respective Permanent Secretaries and the Accountant-General of the Federation to ensure they are not under any disciplinary procedures.
The Career Management Office (CMO) of the OHCSF will then generate a list of candidates based on submissions from Permanent Secretaries and the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The list of eligible candidates will undergo verification screening by a Committee of Permanent Secretaries, under the observation of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), to ensure compliance with eligibility requirements.
In addition, candidates will be required to complete an asset declaration with the Code of Conduct Bureau.
Part of the statement read:
“To further ensure the selection of individuals with impeccable ethical standing, candidates will undergo anti-corruption clearance by the DSS, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the ICPC.
“The process will include a written examination conducted at a top Federal Government security agency.
“The setting of the examination questions and marking will be overseen by a body of serving and retired Permanent Secretaries, with observers from credible civil society organizations, the organized private sector, professional associations, DSS, and ICPC.
“In the subsequent phase of the selection process, candidates will be tested for ICT proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
“Successful candidates will then advance to the next round, which will be an oral interview conducted by a diverse panel, including serving and retired Permanent Secretaries, retired Heads of the Civil Service of the Federation/retired Accountant-General of the Federation, and representatives from the private sector and professional bodies. The ICPC and DSS will also observe this stage.
“The final appointment will rest with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who will consider the best-performing candidates based on their performance throughout the selection process.
“Mrs. Walson-Jack emphasized that the appointment process demonstrates the government’s unwavering commitment to meritocracy, good governance, accountability, and professionalism within the Public Service. The process is designed to ensure that only the most qualified individuals are appointed to these important leadership positions.
“The Federal Government remains dedicated to strengthening institutional capacity, improving service delivery, and contributing to national development through transparent and merit-based processes.”
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