The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, has raised an alarm that the Permanent Secretaries in the Civil Service cannot operate simple computers, leaving the Public Service under President Muhammadu Buhari’s watch in serious confusion,
She also disclosed that Permanent Secretaries face rigorous processes before appointment, but wondered what really happens during the processes.
Yemi-Esan spoke in a chat with Reporters, on Wednesday, in Abuja.
She responded to the controversy surrounding the examination and appointment of the Officials.
She maintained that their selection and appointments were strictly based on merit, adding that, there were no malpractices as alleged in some quarters, and that “there were no preferred Candidates”.
The Head of Service disclosed that some Directors complained about computer-based tests, because they were unable to operate computers.
She said that her office sets questions one day to the examinations, without the candidates or examiners’ knowledge.
Her exact words: “If the Permanent Secretaries who are supposed to lead the digitisation process do not know how to operate computers, how can we not say that the public service is confused.
“How are they going to lead by example? That is the first thing.”
On the non-application of Civil Service Rules by some Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, Yemi-Esan urged anyone affected to send a petition to her office.
She said: “We do not know the details of what is happening in Parastatals and Agencies, except our attention is called to it.”