Promotion to next cadre strictly on merit, vacancies — FCT CSC

By Stanley Onyekwere

As Federal Capital Territory (FCT) civil servants prepare for their promotion examinations, the Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission (FCT CSC), Engr. Emeka Ezeh, has declared that promotions and appointments into key positions in the next cadre will be strictly based on merit and available vacancies.

Speaking in an interview, Engr. Ezeh explained that candidates writing the Computer-Based Test (CBT) would see their results immediately upon submitting their exams.

However, he emphasized that passing the examination does not automatically guarantee promotion to top positions.

Illustrating with the directorate cadre, Ezeh noted that while multiple candidates may score above the pass mark, only the top scorer will be appointed to a specific vacant role.

“If there is one vacancy for Director of Finance and 10 Deputy Directors sit for the exam, scoring between 60% and 90%, all have passed the minimum cut-off mark of 60%.

“However, I cannot make all 10 of them directors. Only the individual with the highest score will be appointed,” he explained.

Addressing potential conflicts with workers’ unions over promotion and vacancy constraints, the CSC Chairman acknowledged strike action as a legitimate tool for labor agitation, but criticized unreasonable demands and political motivation.

“Strike is a legitimate instrument to draw attention to perceived rights within set guidelines.

“However, in our clime, some strikes are politically motivated and used as blackmail. Demanding that promotion should not be tied to vacancies and that everyone should be promoted is unreasonable,” Ezeh stated, adding that the FCT Minister remains open to genuine, issue-based agitations.

He urged civil servants to view their employment as a rare privilege and show greater commitment to duty.

“Out of an FCT population of 4 to 5 million people and over 200 million Nigerians, there are fewer than 30,000 FCT public servants.

“Whether as a nurse, driver, teacher, cleaner, or doctor, every worker contributes to the sustenance of the FCTA,” he said.

He lamented that many workers view attending to public documents as doing the public a favor, rather than fulfilling an honorable public service duty.

Additionally, the CSC Chairman revealed that approximately 103 FCT civil servants are scheduled to retire between September and December 2026.

He noted that the commission recently organized a training program to prepare the prospective retirees for post-service life, encouraging them to approach retirement as a new phase of life rather than the end.

Ezeh also cautioned serving officers against creating administrative bottlenecks for retirees, reminding them that they would eventually retire as well.

“What you sow is what you reap. It is the people currently in the system who make life difficult for those who have left—not people from outer space.

“ If you know you will leave the system one day, do not create bottlenecks for others,” he advised.