In a major shake-up within the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), 49 Deputy Directors have been elevated to the rank of Director across key departments, following the approval of Minister Nyesom Wike.
The announcement, made in Abuja on Tuesday, comes on the heels of the administration’s first-ever computer-based promotion examination, conducted on August 12, 2025, at the National Open University’s Duste-Alhaji Study Centre in Bwari Area Council.
According to the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, the exercise was aimed at clearing the promotion backlog for officers on Grade Level 16 between 2023 and 2025.
“The promotion process marked a significant step in modernizing the civil service evaluation system and provided a level playing ground for all eligible candidates,” Olayinka stated.
Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, Emeka Eze, disclosed that the 49 successful candidates will fill part of the 63 existing vacancies. He explained that the Education Officer Cadre recorded the highest number of promotions, securing 20 slots, while the Accountant Cadre followed with nine.
Other departments, including Civil Engineering, Social Welfare, Tourism, Fisheries, and Medical Services, had one successful candidate each, representing officers who were the sole eligible contenders for their respective cadres.
In a further breakdown, the Education Officer Cadre had 820 eligible candidates competing for 20 positions, while the Administrative Cadre recorded 12 candidates for 10 vacancies.
The introduction of the CBT model, officials noted, was designed to strengthen transparency, accelerate result processing, and eliminate undue external influence. A benchmark of 60 per cent was set as the minimum pass mark.
The development has been hailed as a milestone in reforming the FCT civil service, positioning it as a model for merit-driven career advancement within Nigeria’s public sector.
