A’Ibom HOS Assures On Timely Release Of 2024 Promotion Exams Result

By Victor Essang
UYO
The Head of Civil Service (HOS) in Akwa Ibom has assured civil servants in the state of timely release of the results of the promotion examination for 2024.
Elder Effiong Essien gave the assurance during the formal opening of the 2024 pre-promotion examination seminar conducted by the state Civil Service Commission for officers on salary grade level 06 and above, which took place at Ibom Hall grounds, Uyo.
Essien, who noted that the timely release of the results was predicated on the fact that the pre-promotion examination seminar is taking place within the first half of 2024, stressed, “This will guarantee that the results of the promotions for 2024 will be out within the year”.
The HOS observed that the policy of having to sit for examination before promotion, aside being an integral part of the current promotion process, was to also refresh, test and broaden the knowledge base of our workforce and properly reposition them to meet emerging challenges and demands of the contemporary workplace.
Essien posited that the “promotion examination policy in the service has yielded tremendous dividends, compared to previous practice where officers were promoted on the basis of having spent the mandatory years on a post”, which he said,“created a situation where the output level of some officers declined as workers were certain of getting promoted after every three or four years, as the case may be”, adding, “less attention was given to self-improvement and what an officer could offer or add to the system.”
  “You will agree with me, that equity, justice and fair play based on productivity and performance in the promotion process has been instituted in the service.
“This has challenged the personnel to sit up, knowing that this is the only way they can advance in their service career. The outstandingly competent, hardworking and diligent officers have also continued to enjoy regular promotion based on merit and their measurable contributions to effective service delivery in their various Ministries, Departments and Agencies”, he said.
While commending the Civil Service Commission for giving due and prompt attention to all staff matters, Essien reemphasisedgovernment’s continued support to every Board or Commission charged with the responsibility of ensuring the well-being and career progression of workers to deliver on its assigned mandate.
He appreciated the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, who he described as a compassionate governor for his sincere concern for workers’ welfare as demonstrated in the approval for the conduct of the seminar and examination.
  “This is in addition to the regular settlement of worker’s entitlements, 150 Nos. adjustable 2-bedroom flat at the Grace Estate, to be given free to workers on salary grade level 01- 08, soon and other welfare packages, as well as the infrastructural development in the State”, he said.
  Essien admonished the officers to participate effectively in the presentation and read their manuals thoroughly to be sufficiently equipped to partake in the promotion examination.
While welcoming the participants to the seminar, the chairman,Civil Service Commission, Mrs.Ekerebong Umoh, said “the training is not only for your promotion and improved performance but for your sound mind, confidence and dexterity in dealing with issues around you.”
Umoh said that government considers civil servants very indispensable drivers in the initiation and implementation of government policies and programmes, hence the need for them to be well equipped with service rules and regulations, extant circulars and government policies so as to handle their schedule of duties with pride.
She emphasised the need for every public officer involved in the management of government business, irrespective of his special or professional field of specialty, to have at least a fair knowledge of the workings of government and be familiar with the basic tools required for effective performance of duties.
“Such knowledge and tools include General Principles of Management, Financial Management, Office Practice, Public Service Rules, Procurement Procedure and Security Management”, she said.
The seminar featured paper presentations on: Office Routine/Practice In Government; Personnel Management In Government; Application of Civil Service Rules and Government Circular; Financial Management in Government; Use of English and Security in Government.