FCT Minister Nyesom Wike Approves Confirmation for 1,659 Civil Servants Following Landmark Examination

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike confirms 1,659 staff appointments for workers hired in 2016 and 2019 following a successful civil service examination in Abuja.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 9, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Newsdiaryonline

Resolving Decade-Long Employment Uncertainties

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has officially approved the confirmation of 1,659 workers within the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). This administrative action effectively resolves the employment status of hundreds of civil servants who had remained in a professional limbo since their initial recruitment in 2016 and 2019. The move is seen as a fulfillment of the current administration’s promise to regularize the civil service and ensure that dedicated personnel receive the job security and benefits associated with permanent status. By clearing this backlog, the FCTA aims to boost morale and operational efficiency across its various departments.

The Civil Service Commission’s Rigorous Assessment

The confirmation process was predicated on a comprehensive examination conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission on February 28. According to Commission Chairman Emeka Ezeh, a total of 2,281 officers participated in the assessment. The 1,659 successful candidates represent those who met the necessary competency benchmarks and behavioral standards required for permanent appointment. This formal testing phase is a standard regulatory requirement in the Nigerian civil service, designed to transition workers from probationary or temporary roles into pensionable positions within the federal structure.

Suspected "Ghost Workers" Flagged During In-Person Testing

While the majority of the invited workforce participated, the examination also served as an effective audit of the FCTA's payroll. Out of the 2,512 candidates invited, 224 officers were notably absent without official leave. Chairman Ezeh indicated that this high rate of absenteeism has fueled suspicions of "ghost workers"—individuals who exist on the payroll but do not perform physical duties. The Commission has noted these absences and is expected to conduct a follow-up verification exercise to ensure that public funds are not being disbursed to non-existent or inactive personnel.