JAMB conducts CBT promotion exams for 6,000 civil servants in Nigeria, four countries
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Thursday conducted computer-based promotion examinations for 6,000 directorate cadre staff under the office of the head of the civil service of the federation.
The exercise, which took place at various centres across the federal capital territory (FCT), was also simultaneously conducted in four other countries — the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US), India, and Egypt.
Speaking during the examination at the JAMB CBT centre in Kogo, Bwari area council, Ishaq Oloyede, registrar of the examination body, described the initiative as a bold step by the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) to modernise assessment processes.
“This is a very bold initiative by the Federal Civil Service Commission, and I must commend its visionary leadership,” Oloyede said.
“Many of the candidates initially appeared apprehensive, but once they saw how simple the process was, their confidence grew. If you can use a smartphone, you can take this exam — it’s as easy as ABC.”
He noted that the adoption of the CBT model would help eliminate anxiety about technology among civil servants while promoting transparency and efficiency.
Also speaking, Hussaini Adamu, commissioner representing the FCT and Niger at the FCSC, praised JAMB for the smooth conduct of the exercise, saying it reflected the agency’s long-standing experience in managing large-scale examinations.
“My assessment is that the exercise has been excellent. Candidates were initially anxious but later appreciated the process,” Adamu said.
“The environment is conducive, systems are working, and the transparency is enhanced through CCTV monitoring. The candidates even prefer this method to the old pen-and-paper system.”
He revealed that the assessment began on Wednesday with about 1,500 participants in three sessions, while additional sessions were held on Thursday across multiple centres in Abuja.
Adetunji Olaopa, chairman of the FCSC, said the exercise marked the first time the commission would use CBT for promotion examinations of staff at the directorate level.
“This is a modest but significant progress for us,” Olaopa said. “For the first time, we are conducting promotion exams using CBT, and we are partnering with JAMB, an institution with decades of experience and integrity. The results have exceeded our expectations.”
He explained that the commission chose to begin the innovation in the FCT before expanding it nationwide, citing the need to ensure technical reliability and proper tracking.
“Starting small is the prudent way to ensure success,” he added. “With the success recorded in Abuja and other locations, it will now be easier to scale the exercise across the country.”
