12th August, 2010
Federal civil servants who refused to take part in the Competency Test organised on Monday by Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF) are to be sanctioned.
The test was designed to test the professional competency of those candidates who were due for promotions to the directorate cadre on grade levels 15, 16 and 17 in the Federal Civil Service.
Mr. Tope Ajakaiye, the Deputy Director, Press Affairs, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.
Ajakaiye quoting the head of the civil service of the federation said those who refused to turn up for the test would face sanctions at the appropriate time.
“We operate under the Public Service Rules, which has prescribed sanctions for indiscipline and misconduct.
“At the appropriate time, management will meet and decide what to do about them.
“Right now, what they are doing is to see to those who sat for the examination. They are making arrangements and are working on that. When the data are out they will know those who attended the test,” he said.
On the suit brought against the Federal Government by some of the civil servants, Ajakaiye said the head of service would respond if summoned by the court and the issue would be appropriately addressed.
“You know we are in the civil service and so it involves the Ministry of Justice. The Attorney General of the Federation will take up the case appropriately.
NAN recalls that some 104 out of the more than 3,000 senior civil servants who were qualified for promotions to grade levels 15, 16 and 17 had protested against the Competency Test on the ground that it was illegal.