Nigeria Content Online

Only one in every ten federal civil servants between the grade
levels 14 to 16 is incompetent, the results of the re-sit of the competency
test organised for the federal civil servants have shown.

According to the results, which were released by the office of
the head of service on Tuesday, 89% of the 2800 civil servants that sat for the
test passed the cut-off point of 40%.

The latest result shows a 59% increase in the success rate
recorded in May when the exam was first held.

The test was organised to test the competency of the senior
civil servants in areas of basic office skills.

“You will recall that when the Mandatory Training Competency
test took place in May, 2010, only 30.5% of civil servants who sat for the
competency assessment test crossed the cut-off mark of 40%,” the head of
service, Stephen Oronsaye, said. “I was not particularly happy at the outcome
of the test,” he further said.

Mr. Oronsaye defended the astronomical success rate in the
latest test, saying the woeful performance of the civil servants in the
previous test was due to challenges that were experienced during the training
and the assessment. He blamed the failure on logistics and “some gaps in the
contents of the training modules and course materials developed.”

According to Mr. Oronsaye, a six-member committee helped planned
the latest test, eradicating the challenges that were experienced in May.

“The result of the re-sit test has clearly shown that commitment
and determination towards learning and development can be achieved. It is
indeed gratifying to note that civil servants are beginning to understand and
appreciate the critical importance of the need to have a well developed,
competent, and knowledgeable civil service that is focused on effective service
delivery and able to meet the expectations of policy makers and the public,”
Mr. Oronsaye added.

Olakunle Olaitain, the president of the Association of Senior
Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSON), however, dismissed the result, saying it is
a “non issue.”

Mr. Olaitan led the group of civil servants who protested
against the test.

Not for promotion?

The test, which was held against stiff opposition from the civil
servants, will not be used for promotion. Rather, its results will be studied
to reveal areas of training needs of the civil servants.

“The Assessment Test is distinct and different from the
promotion examination conducted by the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC),”
he said, while announcing the results.

“The Assessment Test is to assist us to understand and help to
address the training needs of the civil servants as well as to optimise the
utilization of the talents of civil servants in the performance of their
duties,” Mr. Oronsaye explained.

However, those that failed the test, alongside the over 300
civil servants who boycotted the test, will not be presented for promotion.

Also, the over 300 servants who did not take the test will face
other disciplinary measures “in line with the rules and regulations of the
civil service.”

Mr. Olaitan, however, advised his members who feel their right
are abused whenever the disciplinary measures are announced by the head of
service, to go to the courts for redress.

Critical areas

Notwithstanding the excellent performance, Mr. Oronsaye said the
performance of participants has indicated the lack of adequate skills in policy
formulation and development, and writing of council memos, amongst others, in
civil servants.

“Clearly, we need to ensure, as a matter of urgency, that these
routine areas of job performance are addressed and improved upon,” he said.

“I wish to emphatically declare that, before the end of the
year, we will put in place a framework for performance management. This will be
backed by integrating a standardized and specialized mandatory training into
the work plan and programmatic activities of ministries, departments, and
agencies,” he said.

In future, Mr. Oronsaye said the test will be better packaged with
more incentives and a more comfortable testing environment. He said the
participants will be paid training stipends, while the training will be
“residential” but mandatory.

“We are also committed to initiating an interactive and vibrant on-line
learning system. As a consequence, we are considering a blend of virtual and
classroom learning and assessment. This, we are committed to introducing before
the end of the year,” Mr. Oronsaye added.