The Federal Government has announced that junior civil servants who fail compulsory promotion examinations three consecutive times may face dismissal from service, Peak Newspaper reports
The directive is part of a renewed effort to strengthen professionalism, accountability, and efficiency within Nigeria’s public sector. Officials say the policy reinforces existing civil service rules, emphasizing that career progression must be tied to competence and performance.
According to government sources, the promotion examinations are mandatory assessments designed to evaluate officers’ readiness for higher responsibilities. Failure to pass after three attempts, authorities say, indicates a lack of capacity to advance within the system.
The move is expected to affect a significant number of junior officers across various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). While the government maintains that the policy will improve service delivery, it has also raised concerns among workers about job security and the need for better support systems.
Labour representatives have called for adequate training, mentoring, and fair evaluation processes to ensure that civil servants are not unjustly penalized.
The Federal Government, however, insists the measure is necessary to uphold standards and drive reforms aimed at building a more effective and result-oriented civil service.
