The Federal Government has declared that all newly appointed officers in the top echelon of the civil service will have to take compulsory confirmation and promotion exams in 2023. This was revealed in a circular issued by Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, the Permanent Secretary, Management Career Service, in the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation.
According to the circular, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has approved the conduct and management of the 2023 Compulsory Confirmation/Promotion Examination for newly appointed Administrative Officers, Foreign Affairs Officers, Executive Officers, Police Officers, Para-Military and other professionals in the Federal Public Service.
The circular further stated that the examination, which is conducted by the Career Management Office of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, is a statutory requirement for the career progression of all staff in the public service. The examination is scheduled to take place across the federation from Tuesday 19th to Friday 22nd September 2023.
The circular also warned that any officer who fails to pass the exams after three consecutive attempts or fails to take the confirmation exam after three years of his or her first appointment will be required to resign or withdraw from the service, in line with Public Service Rules 060203 and 060204. The Permanent Secretary/Head of Extra-Ministerial Office is expected to ensure strict compliance and enforcement.
The categories of officers eligible to sit for the exams are:
(a) Administrative Officers/Professionals (Doctors, Engineers, Teachers, Nurses etc) appointed directly into the Federal Public Service on first appointment;
(b) Administrative Officers/Professionals (Doctors, Engineers, Teachers, Nurses etc) promoted from junior posts, who are yet to be confirmed;
(c) Administrative Officers/Professionals transferred from other Scheduled Services who at the date of transfer are under 40 years and have not satisfied conditions for confirmation;
(d) All unconfirmed Professionals e.g Doctors, Engineers, Architects, Surveyors that are in Government employment;
(e) Officers appointed on first appointment as Executive Officers;
(f) Executive Officers transferred from other Scheduled Services who at the date of transfer are under 40 years and have not satisfied conditions for confirmation; and
(g) Unconfirmed Assistant Executive Officers promoted from junior post.Â
