1280 Ekiti workers sit for promotional exams

(Nigeria) No fewer than 1280 workers in the employ of Ekiti State Government have sat for the 2014 public service promotion examination which is a pre-requisite for their elevation to the subsequent  grade level.

Speaking at Ekiti State University Ado, Ekiti, venue of the examination, the state Head of Service, Dr. Olugbenga Faseluka stated that the promotion exercise was a demonstration of the commitment of the State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose to developing a virile public service.

The Head of Service asserted that the governor has “walked the talk” that he would neither retrench workers nor reduce the minimum wage paid to workers in spite of the financial crunch which the country is facing.

Dr. Faseluka who explained that the promotion examination would protect, preserve and develop the state public service said that the present administration in the state depends tremendously on the civil service for the actualisation of its policies and programmes.

‘' The priority of the Governor Ayodele Fayose-led government is to preserve, protect and develop  the civil service institution in Ekiti State . You must have listened to him severally that the welfare of workers in Ekiti State is the priority of his government and this he has demonstrated by walking the talk that there won’t be job-cut in Ekiti State and that there will be no reduction in the minimum wage paid to workers. This promotion again coming on the heels of those policies is a further attestation to what he has declared. The promotion examination in a very difficult time like this speaks much about the commitment of the government to develop the capacity and competence of the civil service of Ekiti State”, the Head of Service stated.

Dr Faseluka who stated that government provided free transportation for the candidates urged the workers to avail themselves of the Public Service Rules and Regulation as a way of equipping themselves with more knowledge for efficiency.

“This promotion exam is an aspect of such capacity and skill development programmes that we have. I saw a lot of improvement in the service in the last one month since we sent circulars of this exam. Civil servants were now buying the civil service rules to read. So I call on them to see it beyond this exam. They should continue to familiarise themselves with the rules of engagement in the civil service so that it can tell on their productivity”, he said.

Also speaking on the examination, the State chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC,  Raymond Ade-Adesanmi who also wrote the promotion examination commended the state government for acceding to workers’call for 2014 promotion despite the financial constraints facing the State.

Ade-Adesanmi who certified the examination to be well organised  said that the labour unions were initially sceptical about the conduct of the examination considering the 2011 examination which witnessed the demotion of some school principals.

He commended government for releasing the syllabus for the examination; saying that majority of the candidates would pass excellently.

Another candidate in the junior cadre, Miss Tomi Adewumi described the examination as a welcomed development; saying that the present administration deserved commendations for considering promoting workers when some other states were laying off their workers.

“I’d like to say sincerely that I am surprised that we are doing this examination. Though it ought to have come before this time and nobody was expecting it because of the paucity of fund which is a result of economic downturn both in the nation and Ekiti State. I think this is a welcome development and we are really appreciative of government’s gesture”, she said.