Otti bans payment for promotion examinations in Abia civil service

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has abrogated the payment of promotion examination fees by public servants in the state, effective from the ongoing 2022–2023 promotion exercise.

The Abia State Head of Service, Mrs Ngozi Queen Obioma, who announced this in Umuahia during a meeting with top management staff of the Office of the Head of Service, maintained that the directive has come into effect.

Mrs Obioma also called on civil servants who are eligible for the 2022 and 2023 promotions, conversion and confirmation to proceed to the Office of the State Head of Service along with two passport-size photographs for registration from August 1 to 5, 2024. She explained that those eligible for the written examinations are civil servants from Grade 10 and above, as well as those going for conversion and confirmation.

The Abia State Head of Service warned that no civil servant should be subjected to any form of payment in this promotion exercise, as this would be flouting the governor’s directive. She enjoined permanent secretaries, heads of departments and agencies to ensure that the directive was fully complied with.

DAILY POST learnt that the abrogation of the examination fees by the governor may not be unconnected with previous promotion exercises in the state’s civil service, which were allegedly riddled with complaints of financial demands from some persons and offices.