No fewer than 856 civil servants employed by the Enugu State Government on Saturday sat for computer-based tests, as part of the 2025 promotion exercise.
The promotion examinations, conducted at the Digital Learning Centre of the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, involved senior officers from Grade Level 12 and above, including those in the management cadre, according to a statement issued by the governor’s media office on Sunday.
Speaking during the exercise, the Chairman of the Enugu State Civil Service Commission, Mr Robinson Odo, commended Governor Peter Mbah for what he described as prompt payment of salaries and settlement of promotion and conversion arrears since the administration assumed office in 2023.
“Governor Peter Mbah is not owing civil servants salaries or promotion arrears.
“Since he came into office, approvals of promotions and conversions have been up-to-date. What we are doing now is a 2025 promotion conducted in 2025, unlike in the past when promotions were done in arrears,” Odo said.
Odo described the examination as seamless and transparent, noting that the introduction of CBT represented a significant milestone in the ongoing digital transformation of the state civil service.
“Today, we are conducting the 2025 promotion examinations, comprising both computer-based tests and paper-and-pencil exams,” he explained. “The CBT is designed to test the skills and knowledge of civil servants and to assess how well they have aligned with the transformation agenda of this administration in the area of e-governance.''
He added that the selection of officers on Grade Level 12 and above for the CBT was deliberate, as it was meant to assess their computer literacy, adaptability to digital systems, and readiness to take on higher management responsibilities in a technology-driven public service.
“The governor has invested heavily, both financially and in terms of time, in training our workforce on computer compliance and digital literacy.
“This examination is meant to test that knowledge, determine how well officers have keyed into e-governance and also allow them to assess themselves in handling digital tools,” Odo said.
He stressed that the exercise was aimed at capacity building rather than punishment, urging officers who experienced difficulties during the test to see it as an opportunity for further improvement.
“The intention is not for a witch-hunt. It is about building capacity and ensuring that our civil service is ready for the demands of modern governance,” he added.
The CSC chairman said the level of compliance recorded during the examination was encouraging, despite the fact that it was the first CBT experience for some participants.
“From my observation, I would rate the level of computer compliance at over 70 per cent.
“There were no major complaints. Minor technical issues were promptly resolved, and the objective of the examination was achieved to our satisfaction,” the civil service commission chairman said.
He declared that computer-based promotion examinations had “come to stay” in Enugu State, assuring civil servants that the promotion process would remain transparent and merit-driven.
“We promote based on merit, not sentiment, not who you are serving or where you are coming from.
“The CBT will account for 70 per cent of the total assessment, while oral interviews will make up the remaining 30 per cent. You will have access to your results because computer-based testing is all about input and output,” Odo said.
Some participants commended the government for sustained investment in digital capacity building, describing the initiative as transformative.
A senior administrative officer, Mr Chidiebere Udoka, said the digital skills acquired through the training programmes had improved productivity across ministries.
“The computer skills we have acquired are already helping us work faster, manage records better and reduce errors.
“It has made our daily tasks more efficient and aligned with modern public service standards,” Udoka said.
Also speaking, an Assistant Director, Mrs Ugwuoke Onyebuchi, described the CBT as empowering and in line with global best practices.
“This training has boosted my confidence in using digital tools.
“It has improved transparency and accountability in our work and is already enhancing service delivery,” she said.
Similarly, a Grade Level 13 officer, Mrs Ezinne Chukwunonso, said the e-governance drive had repositioned the state civil service for greater efficiency.
“The skills we have gained are not just for promotion exams; they are improving our overall performance.
“Embracing technology is key to effective governance and better service delivery to the people,” she said.
