The Chairman of the Kaduna State Civil Service Commission, Sule Allahbamulafiya, announced that a total of 3,391 civil servants in Kaduna State are set to sit for promotion examinations on Tuesday.
According to The PUNCH, this announcement was made during a media interaction held on Monday at the commission’s headquarters in Kaduna.
Allahbamulafiya noted that Governor Uba Sani had approved the simultaneous conduct of the 2023 and 2024 promotion exercises.
This initiative aims to recognize the dedication and commitment of public servants, ultimately boosting their morale and motivation. He further explained that the examination is part of the efforts to clear the backlog of delayed promotions within the core civil service, impacting 3,391 officers.
Emphasizing the importance of merit-based processes, Allahbamulafiya said the commission takes a comprehensive approach in recruitment and promotions.
He pointed out that the commission also ensures fair representation from all 23 local government areas in the state, considering factors such as gender balance and the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
In an effort to enhance the efficiency of the state’s civil service, Allahbamulafiya revealed that the commission has implemented several key reforms.
These include the introduction of an aptitude test for prospective applicants seeking to join the state civil service, alongside measures to streamline the recruitment of personnel for vacant and newly created positions.
He added that the commission has revoked the delegated powers (GL. 01-06) previously granted to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in the state.
This decision, he said, is aimed at curbing abuse by certain MDAs and ensuring recruitment returns directly to the commission.
Regarding the upcoming promotion examinations, Allahbamulafiya highlighted that consultants have been engaged to oversee the tests.
While the examinations were initially intended to be conducted as computer-based tests this transition has been deferred to 2025 due to time constraints.
One significant reform is the introduction of a 50% pass mark for candidates to be eligible for an oral promotion interview. Additionally, the overall pass mark for promotion—both written and oral—has been increased from 60% to 70% for directorate-level officers.
Allahbamulafiya also addressed disciplinary matters, stating that the commission is committed to resolving cases of misconduct within an eight-week timeframe.
He mentioned that recent disciplinary actions had resulted in the dismissal of nine officers, the compulsory retirement of two others, the demotion of five officers, and serious warnings issued to 10 more.
The chairman emphasized that the commission had adopted the Employee Performance Management System to replace the previous Annual Performance Evaluation Report.
According to him, this shift ensures that promotions are based on merit, rather than being viewed as a routine administrative process.
In cases of gross misconduct, Allahbamulafiya reaffirmed that the commission remains firm in upholding discipline.
“The decisions included the introduction of an aptitude test for the applicants wishing to join the state civil service,” he said, underscoring the efforts to maintain transparency and fairness in the system.
“They also included the recruitment of personnel to fill vacant and newly created offices, revocation of delegated powers (GL. 01-06) to MDAs and returning to the commission to curtail abuse by some MDAs,” he said.
Furthermore, Allahbamulafiya reiterated the commission’s commitment to supporting the “SUSTAIN AGENDA” of the state government, ensuring a more effective and efficient civil service in Kaduna State.
Reflecting on past initiatives, he recalled that in November 2017, the Kaduna State Executive Council approved the outcome of a controversial competency test for primary four teachers.
The council also directed an immediate recruitment process for 25,000 new teachers to replace those who failed the test, highlighting the state’s ongoing efforts to improve standards across its workforce.
