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Who is afraid of merit-based process in the selection of federal perm secs?
By Bonaventure Phillips Melah
It has become clearly obvious that some unpatriotic and corrupt so called ‘powerful people’ are sponsoring and inserting fabricated lies and innuendos in a section of disrepute media platforms with the aim of inciting the politicization of the appointment of Federal Permanent Secretaries and denouncing the culture of meritocracy in the Public Service.
These enemies of fair-play, accountability and due process in their desperation have even launched sponsored and coordinated media attacks in an attempt to tarnish the hard-earned image and integrity of Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
This is coming, following the examination recently conducted by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).
The exam which was open to eligible Directors from states having vacancies followed the conclusion of a screening exercise. According to a circular from the Office, out of the 85 Directors that were cleared to sit for the written exam, 61 candidates failed to meet the minimum mark of 50 percent. 20 candidates scaled through while four candidates were absent.
There are whispers that some of the directors that could not score up to 50 percent are paying for the blackmailing media insertions while their godfathers, including religious and traditional rulers are pressing buttons from the backdoor.
And their intentions are clear- to blackmail the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to cancel the exam and revert to the old order where nepotism is the qualifying certificate rather than merit.
But knowing Dr. Yemi-Esan and her pedigree as an incorruptible champion of merit, due process, law and order, the blackmailers’ campaigns are dead on arrival. She has said on the case that “I will never succumb to blackmail or pressure to compromise the integrity of Perm Sec Exams,” therefore there is no window here.
If the Plan-B of those behind the negative media insertions is to draw the esteemed attention of the President to their shameless mission in order to get a presidential directive to revert to dubious status quo ante, that angle too, can be seen in a trash can already. This is because this President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has continued to hammer on merit, which he has practically demonstrated in his appointment of right persons as ministers, advisers, heads of MDA and Board members.
To peep into the lies and dubious underbelly mission of the blackmailers and their disrepute media partners, a certain publication quoted the usual non-existent and unverifiable ‘sources’ to say that by conducting exam for the directors, the OHCSF usurped the President’s exclusive power to make such appointments. But this publication has exposed two things, the ignorance and deliberate falsehood of the writers and their sponsors.
In the first place, the writers lack knowledge on the process as well as how permanent secretaries are appointed.
One, before the exam was conducted, the OHCSF, had through a circular- OHCSF/PS/CMO/178/11/06, dated August 21, 2023, written to all the relevant authorities including the Chief of Staff to the President, Ministers, SGF, EFCC, ICPC and others of the exam.
The circular also listed all the vacancies and states that had the openings.
wo, the President appoints permanent secretaries based on recommendations by relevant authorities. Criminals should note that Nigeria cannot remain a lawless country forever.
For those who do not know her, Dr. Yemi-Esan had put in years of spotless service to Nigeria serving as Director and Permanent Secretary at different ministries including Information and Culture; Education; Petroleum and OHCSF before becoming the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
She is the force behind the various reforms that have combined to clean up the nation’s civil service and for which she has received standing ovations and numerous awards from local, national and international bodies. This attempt to pour tar on her reputation and integrity will not work.
In my candid opinion, just like in the days of the land of Sodom and Gomorrah when Abraham in a dialogue with God made case for the salvation of the city if just but 10 qualified persons meet up to God’s standard of righteousness for the city to be saved, so let it be concerning the selection of Permanent Secretaries.
A close analysis of the results released by the exam committee shows a significant level of consistency in the candidates that scaled through from the written test to the oral interview. Out of the 85 candidates that were screened to sit for the exams, 20 made it to the ICT proficiency test and thereafter, 18 from that number made it to the oral. My take on the 20 candidates or final 18 is that they somewhat standout from other candidates having been able to consistently cross to the final stage.
Therefore, if the service will not be paying lip service in entrenching meritocracy in the system, priority should be accorded to the quality of the candidates and not the quantity to merely fill vacancies. There are certainly other brighter candidates from the states in the service and they will eventually emerge.
This calls for both the will and drive of all stakeholders with the aim of ending mediocrity and poor performance in our public service.
By Bonaventure Phillips Melah, an Abuja based journalist is the Publisher of Nationwide Reports www.nationwidereports.ng
News
NiMet DG Anosike urges service providers to move beyond institutional compliance to measurable impacts on citizens
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike, has called on public institutions to move beyond regulatory compliance and certifications to delivering measurable results that create lasting value for citizens.
The DG/CEO of NiMet, who was represented by the Director, Engineering and Technical Services, Engr. Hamid Olayinka Abdulkareem, made the call during his keynote address at the 3rd National Quality Improvement Summit and Awards, organised by the Quality Improvement Institute of Nigeria (QIIN) in Abuja on Thursday 12 November 2026. Speaking on the theme, “Quality: Powering Performance – Moving Beyond Compliance to Measurable Results,” Professor Anosike emphasised that institutional credibility must be earned through consistent service delivery, accountability, innovation and continuous improvement.
Highlighting NiMet’s commitment to international quality standards, the DG/CEO disclosed that the Agency secured ISO 9001:2015 certification for aeronautical meteorological services at Yola, Osubi and Owerri airports in July 2026, alongside the successful recertification of five other airports, bringing its total number of QMS-certified airport stations to eight. He stressed that quality assurance in meteorological services is critical to aviation safety, agricultural productivity, disaster preparedness and national economic development.
Professor Anosike further highlighted the integration of the Balanced Scorecard Performance Management System into NiMet’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan as a significant step towards strengthening institutional accountability. He explained that the framework connects strategic objectives with measurable performance indicators, ensuring that organisational success is assessed not merely by activities undertaken but by results achieved and value delivered.
He urged institutions to invest in people, technology and stakeholder partnerships while embedding quality management into their organisational culture. According to him, sustainable institutional excellence requires leadership commitment, continuous evaluation and a deliberate shift from procedural compliance to measurable public impact.
News
Joint Aviation Unions Appoint Keyamo Grand Patron of Renewed Hope Support Group, Present ITF Position Paper Ahead of ICAO Conference
The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, today received a high-powered delegation of aviation labour unions under the Joint Aviation Trade Union Forum (JATUF), led by its Chairman, Comrade Ben Nnabue, in Abuja.
The delegation comprised top executives of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and other aviation unions, including the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), and Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP). The unions are affiliates of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).
Other members of the delegation included Comrade John Ogbe, Vice Chairman; Comrade Alale Adedayo, Vice Chairman; Group Captain Bunmi Gandeh, Vice Chairman; and Comrade Hector Nnadi, Secretary of the Forum.
The visit was primarily to formally present the position paper of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) to the Minister, seeking Nigeria’s support for a motion advocating the integration of social sustainability, decent work and meaningful workers’ engagement into the global civil aviation framework at the forthcoming Seventh Worldwide Air Transport Conference (ATConf7) of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), scheduled to hold in Montreal, Canada, from November 16 to 20, 2026.
According to Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser to the Hon. Minister on Media and Communications, the proposed motion, which has received Nigeria’s nod, underscores the need for the international aviation community to recognise that the sustainability and long-term success of civil aviation go beyond infrastructure development, technological advancement and economic growth to include the welfare, rights and professional development of the workforce that sustains the industry.
The unions stressed that the future of international civil aviation must be built on a framework that balances economic competitiveness with social responsibility, recognising aviation workers as indispensable stakeholders in the growth, safety and efficiency of the industry.
The Minister’s reception of the position paper further demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to constructive engagement with organised labour and the promotion of policies that strengthen the aviation sector while protecting the interests of its workforce.
In a related development, the delegation also formally presented the Minister with an invitation to serve as Grand Patron of the Renewed Hope Aviation Support Group (RHASG), under the umbrella of the Strategic Collaboration for the Re-Election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
The nomination, made on behalf of the Board of Trustees, National Executive Council and entire membership of the organisation, recognises the Minister’s leadership, professional competence and capacity for strategic coordination.
The group congratulated Keyamo on his recent appointment as Director of the Directorate of Air Transport Mobilisation for the All Progressives Congress (APC) re-election campaign, describing the appointment as a testament to the confidence reposed in his leadership abilities, organisational experience and commitment to effective mobilisation.
According to the group, the Minister’s wealth of experience in managing complex responsibilities, coupled with his strategic understanding of the aviation industry, makes him well-positioned to provide political leadership, guidance and direction to the organisation.
The appointment as Grand Patron is intended to strengthen the group’s strategic direction and consolidate support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his anticipated re-election bid.
The development marks another demonstration of the growing intersection between organised aviation labour, industry stakeholders and broader national development objectives, with the Minister continuing to engage stakeholders on issues that affect the growth, sustainability and future of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
News
Gwarzo appoints Shehu Wada Sagagi as campaign DG
The Kano State governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has appointed a former Kano State Chief of Staff, Gwani Alhaji Shehu Wada Sagagi, as Director-General of his 2027 governorship campaign.
The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu, spokesperson to the NDC governorship candidate.
According to the statement, Gwarzo also named Alhaji Adamu Ali Ibrahim Kibiya as Secretary of the Campaign Directorate and Engr. Sunusi Usman Dambatta as Deputy Director-General.
Sagagi, a former Commissioner for Investment, Commerce and Industry and ex-chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kano State, is expected to lead the campaign’s activities ahead of the 2027 election.
The appointments take immediate effect, while the full membership of the campaign council will be announced later.
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