REVEALED: How failure of Soludo’s candidates caused refusal to appoint Perm Secs in Anambra

~ Only 6 permanent secretaries overseeing 23 MDAs

A source within the Anambra State Civil Service has revealed how candidates of the Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, who wrote exams for appointment as permanent secretaries failed woefully in the exams.

The source stated that as a result of retirement, many permanent secretaries on the state were no longer in service, prompting the need for new appointments.

Even though the rule is for civil servants within the state civil service to compete for the position, Soludo brought in people from private sector, who were suspected to be his favoured candidates, but they all scored poorly in the exams.

As a result of this the source said, the governor has refused to appoint top civil servants who performed very creditably during the August 24, 2022 computer based exam that was conducted by PriceWater Coopers (PWC), a reputable finance based organisation based in Lagos.

The source who shared his frustration with THE RAZOR said: “I am happy to let you know that this is my 33 years of meritorious service to Anambra State (it is just by the grace of GOD).

“Again I performed very well in the Computer Based Test (CBT) written interview for appointment of Permanent Secretaries that was held on Wednesday, 24th August , 2022.

“My name is amongst the list of candidates recommended by the Head of Service to Mr Governor to be appointed as Permanent Secretaries in the State.

“It is over a year since we attended this written interview. The results of CBTs are always ready at the back-end of the Computer immediately the candidate submits his or her answers. It beats my imagination why it is taking Mr Governor this long to make these appointments.

“273 candidates applied for the posts of Permanent Secretaries in the State. Seventy something of this number came from the Private Sector while the rest were core civil servants.

“The Computer Based Test was organized by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC). Mr Governor, Prof.Charles Soludo was advised that appointment of Permanent Secretaries is strictly meant for career Civil Servants, he insisted that candidates from Private Sector should be part of the exercise.

“From the result/outcome of the CBT exams, Civil Servants performed creditably well while the candidates from organized private sector failed woefully. Based on the above scenario Mr Governor has remained reluctant to appoint Permanent Secretaries in the State.

“If the reverse had been the case, he would have made the appointment long ago. We have lost over a year’s salaries and other emoluments as it were if these appointments were made.

“The situation in Anambra State Civil Service has become so precarious because the service has 23 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and each MDA is supposed to be manned by one (1) Permanent Secretary.

“Presently the State has only six(6) substantive Permanent Secretaries overseeing 23 MDAs, others have retired (Ezeanwu retired today). Some of these Permanent Secretaries are overseeing three MDAs, others four MDAs. This ugly practice is gradually grinding the service to a halt and it is very unhealthy for the System.

“I am pleading with you people to intervene and compel Mr. Governor to do the needful.”

Another source who pleaded to remain anonymous confirmed that he also wrote the exams, insisting that the story is true.

He said: “We didn’t know that a governor that is as educated as our governor can also be this clannish. Some of the people he brought from outside to write the exams are his kinsmen, friends and allies.

“If we (civil servants) were the ones who failed and his associates passed, I’m sure he would have long released the exams result.”

When THE RAZOR visited the office of the head of service, Mrs Theodora Igwegbe for reaction, we were told he was not on seat. Several calls to her phone failed to connect.