The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, on Thursday, conducted a promotional examination for 6,000 directorate cadre staff under the Federal Civil Service Commission.
For candidates in the Federal Capital Territory, the computer-based test was held at the JAMB CBT centre in Kogo, Bwari Area Council.
Speaking with journalists during the exercise, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said the exam was also being conducted for candidates in the United Kingdom, United States of America, India and Egypt.
He said, “I think that it’s important to say that this is a very bold initiative on the part of the Federal Civil Service Commission, and I’m not surprised about that because of the visionary leadership. I also believe that people do not need to die before death.
The apprehension you could see when people are coming in, as if the computer is something that cannot do, but we have a system, a system that allows you alternative routes.
“Once you know how to use your cell phone, you’ll be able to write our examination successfully because it’s just A B C and you don’t need to touch the mouse. This examination is taking place not only within Nigeria but also in four countries across the world. It’s taking place in the UK, US, India and Egypt. These are the four countries where we have deployed our personnel.”
The JAMB Registrar said that with the steps taken by the Federal Civil Service Commission, “people will be less apprehensive about using a computer.”
“When I came into the hall, I could see apprehension, but by the time they saw what the instruction was and so on, I asked so many of them questions and they were just smiling.”
He appreciated the leadership of the Federal Civil Service Commission for taking the bold step.
Also speaking, the Commissioner representing FCT and Niger on the Federal Civil Service Commission, Dr Hussaini Adamu, said he was impressed with the performance of the candidates, revealing that the assessment commenced on Wednesday with about 1,500 candidates participating in three sessions.
He said, “My assessment is that we find the exercise to be an excellent one. It shows the experience of JAMB over the decades that they have been conducting this examination successfully. The candidates were earlier apprehensive, but after the commencement of the exercise, they are very happy, and they actually preferred this process compared to the last system of using pen and paper. It is a transparent system.”
Adamu said to check malpractices, the halls had CCTV cameras “watching remotely”.
“The systems are working. The environment is conducive. The temperature using the air conditioners is okay, and then the process is such that when they come before going into the hall, there is a place where they are kept and it is secured,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Prof. Adetunji Olaopa, said it was the first time the commission was using CBT for staff promotion exam, saying he was impressed with the success recorded in the examination of 6,000 candidates for the director cadre.
He said: “It is a little progress, but significant for us, in many senses. We know that computer-based tests are already popular, but at least for the Federal Civil Service Commission, this is the first time we are doing this. We are fortunate because we build our confidence on the fact that we are partnering with a sister institution like JAMB that has built up experience for decades.
“When everybody thought we should tread carefully, we had that confidence with Professor Ishaq Oloyede at JAMB, a national brand and someone who is a performer, a man of strong integrity, we knew that we could go ahead and we would succeed.”
punch.ng
FOLLOW US ON:
