ABUJA – The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has launched a dual reform initiative, removing absconded workers from its payroll while institutionalizing computer-based promotion testing for its 8,000-strong workforce.
FCT Civil Service Commission Chairman Engr. Emeka Eze announced the measures Tuesday during the latest round of digital promotion examinations, signaling a decisive shift toward modernizing the territory’s civil service.
“Some people are not really ghosts but they have absconded from duty,” Eze stated, drawing a clear distinction between fraudulent ghost workers and employees who have abandoned their positions. “If you absconded from duty, it means that you are no longer working.”
The five-day Computer-Based Test (CBT) exercise represents the administration’s commitment to ensuring staff possess essential digital competencies for contemporary governance. Eze revealed substantial investments in ICT training programs, with corresponding expectations for enhanced service delivery.
Acting Head of Service Nancy Sabanti-Nathan confirmed the permanence of the digital examination system despite technical challenges encountered during implementation. “On your question whether it has come to stay, yes, it has come to stay,” she affirmed. “Challenges are always there with us but we always find a way around them.”
The official explained the system’s flexibility, noting that examination timers activate only when candidates begin their tests, ensuring equitable conditions for all participants. She emphasized there would be “no going back to the old regime,” underscoring the administration’s determination to modernize workforce assessment.
Eze concurrently appealed for establishment of a dedicated FCT-owned CBT center to address logistical constraints, highlighting the need for infrastructure to support the digital transition.
