The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on Thursday conducted a computer-based promotion examination for about 6,000 directorate cadre officers under the Federal Civil Service Commission as part of efforts to modernise Nigeria’s civil service assessment process.
The exercise, held at various JAMB Computer-Based Test centres nationwide and in four foreign countries — the United Kingdom, the United States, India, and Egypt — marked the first time the commission would adopt the CBT format for staff promotion examinations.
Speaking during the monitoring of the exercise at JAMB’s CBT Centre in Kogo, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, commended the initiative, describing it as a major step toward technological advancement in public service management.
“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,” Oloyede said.
“The fear we saw on the faces of many participants when they arrived was simply due to a lack of familiarity with computers. But once they understood the simple process, they became relaxed and even smiled. Anyone who can use a phone can write this exam successfully—it’s just A, B, C.”
Oloyede noted that the examination was being conducted simultaneously across multiple countries, reflecting the federal government’s commitment to embracing digital innovation.
“This examination is taking place not only in Nigeria but also in four countries — the UK, the US, India, and Egypt — where our personnel have been deployed,” he added.
“I believe that this process will help civil servants overcome their apprehension about technology and encourage wider adoption of digital tools in governance.”
Also speaking, the Commissioner representing the FCT and Niger State on the FCSC, Dr. Hussaini Adamu, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise, describing it as transparent, efficient, and professionally managed.
“My assessment is that the exercise has been excellent. JAMB’s decades of experience in organising computer-based tests are evident,” Adamu said.
“The candidates were initially nervous, but after the exercise began, they were very happy and even preferred this method to the old pen-and-paper format. The environment is conducive, the halls are well-monitored with CCTV, and the systems functioned smoothly.”
He explained that the examinations, which began on Wednesday, were conducted in multiple batches across various centres nationwide.
“In this centre alone, we had over 500 participants per session, with about 1,500 candidates sitting for the test yesterday and several batches taking part today. Across the country, we’re talking about thousands,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Prof. Adetunji Olaopa, said the move to adopt CBT marked a historic reform in Nigeria’s public sector examination system.
“It may look like a small step, but it is a major milestone for us. This is the first time the commission is conducting its promotion examinations through a computer-based system,” Olaopa stated.
“We partnered with JAMB because it is a trusted institution with a strong reputation for integrity and technological expertise. Despite initial concerns, we were confident that the collaboration would succeed — and it has.”
Olaopa added that the FCSC intends to gradually expand the CBT system to all states, noting that the pilot phase’s success had demonstrated the model’s efficiency and transparency.
“Expanding to all states will require more resources and logistics, but based on this success, we can now plan for wider implementation. Over 6,000 officers participated in this first phase,” he said.
The FCSC earlier announced that the adoption of CBT for promotion examinations aligns with federal reforms aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the public service.
According to the commission, the initiative seeks to reduce malpractice, promote merit-based assessments, and strengthen public trust through technology-driven evaluation systems.
