The Federal Civil Service Commission has approved the elevation of 2,363 officers into the directorate cadre, a development aimed at reinforcing leadership capacity within Nigeria’s public service.
The approval was disclosed by the Chairman of the commission, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, in a statement issued on Wednesday, December 24, 2025.
According to the commission, 338 officers were promoted to Salary Grade Level 17 as full directors, while 614 advanced to SGL 16 as deputy directors and 1,411 to SGL 15 as assistant directors.
The promotions followed a competitive assessment process, with candidates subjected to examinations conducted through a computer-based test, a first in the history of the commission, while those vying for director-level positions also faced oral interviews.
The exercise drew participants from various ministries, departments and agencies, including the State House, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Agriculture, Communications, Environment, Health, Housing, Humanitarian Affairs, Industry, Trade and Investment, Information, Science and Technology, Justice, Labour and Employment, Power, Works, Water Resources, Women Affairs, Youth Development, Defence, Foreign Affairs, Solid Minerals, Sports Commission, as well as the offices of the Accountant-General, Auditor-General and Surveyor-General of the Federation.
Prof. Olaopa noted that the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation produced the highest number of successful candidates, with 110 officers promoted, while some ministries, including Aviation, Transport, Power, Education, Petroleum and Solid Minerals, recorded no successful candidates.
The examinations were conducted in partnership with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, with centres established both within Nigeria and abroad, including the United Kingdom, United States, India and Egypt.
The commission described the outcome as a landmark achievement, stressing that the exercise underscored its commitment to transparency, competitiveness and merit-based advancement in the federal civil service.