The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Thursday conducted a computer-based promotional examination for 6,000 directorate cadre staff under the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).
For candidates in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the examination was held at the JAMB Computer-Based Test Centre (CBT) in Kogo, Bwari Area Council.
Speaking with journalists during the exercise, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said the examination was also being conducted for candidates in the United Kingdom, United States of America, India, and Egypt.
He said, ‘This is a very bold initiative on the part of the Federal Civil Service Commission, and I am not surprised because of its visionary leadership.
‘I also believe that people do not need to die before death. The apprehension you could see when people were coming in—as if the computer was something they could not handle—but we have a system that allows alternative routes.
‘Once you know how to use your cell phone, you will be able to write our examination successfully because it’s just A, B, C, and you don’t need to touch the mouse.
‘This examination is taking place not only within Nigeria but also in four countries across the world: the UK, the US, India, and Egypt. These are the four countries where we have deployed our personnel.
‘I believe that with what the Federal Civil Service Commission is doing, people will be less apprehensive about using computers. When I came into the hall, I could see apprehension, but after they saw the instructions, many were just smiling.
‘We should not be afraid of things we do not know; rather, we should confront them. I want to appreciate once again the leadership of the Federal Civil Service Commission for taking this bold step’.
Also speaking, the Commissioner representing the FCT and Niger State on the FCSC, Dr Hussaini Adamu, said he was impressed with the performance of the candidates, revealing that the assessment began on Wednesday with about 1,500 participants in three sessions.
He said, ‘My assessment is that the exercise has been excellent. It shows the experience of JAMB over the decades; they have been conducting examinations successfully.
‘The candidates were initially apprehensive, but after the commencement of the exercise, they were very happy and actually preferred this process compared to the old pen-and-paper system.
‘It is a transparent system. The halls have CCTV cameras that monitor activities remotely, the systems are functioning, the environment is conducive, and the air conditioning is adequate.
‘When they arrive, there is a secure waiting area before entering the hall. It’s a beautiful exercise, and the outcome from yesterday’s sessions and the first batch of today’s is good.
‘I commend JAMB for conducting the exercise with such professionalism and dignity of service. I don’t have the full figure here, but I know the number of candidates runs into thousands. Even in this hall, we have more than 500 seats and have already conducted three batches yesterday—about 1,500 participants—and we are conducting another three batches today.
‘As I said yesterday, I know there are about 10 centres, with only two here in the FCT. After yesterday’s exercise, we held a meeting as a commission to review the process, and the outcome was very positive’.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Prof. Adetunji Olaopa, said it was the first time the commission would use a CBT format for promotion examinations, describing the exercise as a major milestone.
He said, ‘It may seem a little progress, but it is significant for us in many ways. We know that computer-based tests are already popular, but at least for the Federal Civil Service Commission, this is the first time we are doing this.
‘We were confident because we partnered with a sister institution like JAMB, which has decades of experience.
When many thought we should tread carefully, we had confidence in Professor Ishaq Oloyede and JAMB—a national brand led by a man of strong integrity. We knew that we could go ahead and succeed.
‘So far, based on the targets we set for ourselves, I’d like to say that we have not only met them but exceeded them.
There were concerns about whether CBT could be conducted everywhere across the country for convenience. Yes, we recognise this, but when you are introducing a new system or innovation, it is proper to start small and build on success.
‘Expanding to all states will require significant resources—technology, logistics, and monitoring—but from the success we’ve achieved here, it won’t take much to make it more convenient and accessible to all candidates wherever they are. It’s clearly a little over 6,000 officers in the directorate cadre who participated in this exercise’.
Earlier this year, the FCSC announced its decision to adopt computer-based testing for promotional examinations for directorate-level officers as part of ongoing reforms to modernise Nigeria’s civil service assessment system.
According to Olaopa, the move aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the civil service.
The FCSC also stated that its decision to adopt CBT was driven by the need to leverage technology to improve service delivery, ensure credibility, and reduce malpractice, aligning with the Federal Government’s broader efforts to modernise the public service, strengthen public trust, and enhance operational agility.
