By Charles Pemu 
ABUJA—Following the abduction of six Federal Ministry of Defence Directors traveling for a promotion examination, the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) has responded to the growing public safety concerns and demands from the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN).
While appealing for patience from candidates, the FCSC acknowledged the logistical hardships and security risks associated with forcing employees to travel to Abuja to write the Directorate Level Computer-Based Test (CBT).
In a statement issued on Monday, the Commission’s spokesman, Taiwo Hassan, said the FCSC is aware of the inconveniences and acknowledged that the transition from manual examinations to a digital, centralized format comes with “attendant hurdles.”
Crucially, the FCSC assured candidates and the public that, based on the public feedback received—which intensified following the recent abductions it would “consider the possibility of decentralizing the examination centres across the 36 States and FCT” in future exercises. This move would involve leveraging technology-enabled innovations to make the process seamless and safer.
The Commission defended the initial centralized approach, noting that it leveraged Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) facilities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ensure the “credibility and transparency” of the promotion process.
In the meantime, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation is exploring arrangements for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to process Duty Tour Allowances (DTA) for eligible officers traveling outside their duty stations for the examinations. This temporary measure is intended to mitigate the financial burden on candidates, although it does not directly address the severe security risks.
The FCSC’s assurance comes amid strong criticism from bodies like the Federal Workers Forum, which condemned the centralized Abuja directive as “insensitive to the plight of workers” who are exposed to danger and additional financial burdens, echoing the long-held concerns of the ASCSN.