89% federal workers pass competency test

Eighty-nine per cent of the 2,800 civil servants from Grade Levels 14 to16, who sat for the recently concluded competency test conducted by the Federal Civil Service, were successful, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for updates and information related to other schools. 

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye, gave the figure while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the test in Abuja on Tuesday.


The mandatory training competency test took place on August 9, 2010.


Oronsaye said, “The result of the test has clearly shown that commitment and determination towards learning and development, can be achieved.


“The result is also indicative of the new level of seriousness and commitment to this initiative; let me therefore commend civil servants for standing on the side of learning and excellence.


“It is indeed gratifying to note that civil servants are beginning to understand and appreciate the critical importance of the need to have a well developed , competent and knowledgeable civil service that is focused on effective service delivery.’’


The HOCSF said the result of the first test was poor, the re-sit was good, while “the exercise, on the whole , has shown that we can put the civil service back on track.”


According to him, this can reduce the criticism by policy makers and the public on the ineffectiveness of the service on policy implementation.


He said the specialised mandatory competency training would be residential , so as to alleviate participants’ experience and discomfort with earlier arrangements.


Oronsaye said Duty Tour Allowance would be replaced by training stipend and course material allowance; while Service-Wide Specialised Mandatory Training will be for all levels and all cadres for management and professional enrichment.


Meanwhile, Oronsaye said that the senior civil servants who boycotted test would miss the next promotion exercise.


It was gathered that more than 1000 of such officers boycotted the test as they dragged the Federal Government to court, challenging the powers of the HOS to conduct the exercise.


Our correspondent reports that Oronsaye added that those who failed the test would not be presented for promotion examinations.


He said, “I can tell you straight away, those who did not participate will not be presented to the Federal Civil Service Commission for the next promotion. Unless there are valid reasons why these people did not sit for the test, they will not be presented for the next promotion.”