FG Conducts Computer-based Exams For 9,618 Civil Servants

Federal government has conducted the second phase of the computer-based Confirmatory Promotional Examination (COMPTRO II) for junior cadre officers in public service across the nation.

The examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), had a total of 9, 618 candidates from paramilitary and junior officers from the core Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), who participated in the exams nationwide.

The permanent secretary, Career Management, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, while speaking after touring Abuja centres, commended JAMB management for the proper conduct of the exams.

“As you can see, the exam has been well organised and this is the first time we are holding a CBT for junior COMPRO. Last year was for the senior cadre officers and I commend the level of their comportment.

“The way they have handled the system for now is encouraging and I believe by the time we come back next year for the same exercise, things will improve, “ he said.

Ogunbiyi, however, identified some areas of lapses including accreditation of officers which he said would be addressed before the next conduct of such exercise.

The reason behind the initiative by the federal government, the permanent secretary explained, was part of the efforts by the government to reform the public service by going digital and to further improve civil servants in the course of their work in office.

“In the first instance, the COMPRO is to test the ability and how well the public officers know the public service and to test the level of their potential to handle the assignments given to do as public servants.

“What we are doing now by going digital is part of reforms of the nation’s public service. Of course, over the years we have been handling bulk questions and papers and we have a lot of human interface in assessing officers.

“But going digital, we are now reducing human contact, it is done seamlessly. So, what you put there is what you get back,” he said.

Also, Mr Ateboh Ademu, Director of Learning and Development, office of the HOCSF, said the head of the service office was satisfied with the level of performance of the exercise.

“As the director of learning and development, the assessment so far as we have all witnessed by all indications is excellent, is even beyond expectations, the attitude, the conducts of candidates and handling of the whole exercise have been done excellently. “

Ademu gave assurance of non-compromise of the system to sustain the needed standards.

He said that having examined some of the problems encountered during the first conduct of the exam, the office of the HOCSF in collaboration with JAMB has put some measures on the ground to address all observable challenges.