The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) has commenced the appointment process for five new Permanent Secretaries, following the approval of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
The process seeks to fill five vacant positions: two arising from the recent retirement of Permanent Secretaries from Imo State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and three newly created rotational zonal vacancies due to the establishment of additional Ministries. These zonal vacancies cover the North-Central, North-East, and South-East geopolitical zones.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, emphasised that the process has been carefully structured to ensure transparency, credibility, and merit, in line with the Administration’s commitment to good governance. Only qualified and competent officers are being considered.
The exercise commenced with the call for applications from eligible officers on Grade Level 17 in the mainstream Federal Civil Service, who had spent at least two (2) years on the grade. Their respective Permanent Secretaries cleared them as not being under any disciplinary action before forwarding their names.
Thereafter, the OHCSF compiled the list of eligible officers, who were subjected to a verification and screening exercise conducted by a Committee of Permanent Secretaries, with monitoring by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS). Candidates also completed asset declaration forms with the Code of Conduct Bureau, while anti-corruption clearances from the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS are ongoing.
The initial screening exercise has been successfully concluded, and the selection process is now advancing to the next phase—the written examination—which is scheduled to commence on Monday, 15th September 2025. Candidates will sit for the examination at a secure Federal Government facility. The setting and marking of the examination will be supervised by a panel comprising serving and retired Permanent Secretaries, with oversight provided by observers from a civil society organisation, the organised private sector, and other relevant stakeholders.
Candidates who are successful in the written examination will proceed to the ICT proficiency assessment, which will take place on Wednesday, 17th September 2025.
The final phase of the process—a comprehensive oral interview—is scheduled for Friday, 19th September 2025. This will be conducted by a distinguished panel consisting of the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, serving and retired Permanent Secretaries, former Heads of the Civil Service of the Federation, and representatives from the private sector and a professional body. The Anti – Corruption Agencies will also observe this stage to ensure integrity and transparency.
The final recommendations based on overall performance and merit, will be submitted to the President for his consideration and approval.
Mrs. Walson-Jack reiterated that the exercise reflects the Federal Government’s firm commitment to strengthening institutional capacity, promoting professionalism, and ensuring a transparent and merit-based public service leadership. This initiative underscores the Administration’s dedication to improving service delivery and driving national development.
Signed
Mrs. Eno Olotu, mnipr
Director, Information and Public Relations
15th September 2025
