The Federal Government has commenced recruitment for five permanent secretaries, three of whom will lead newly established ministries.
A circular released by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), signed by Head of Service Didi Walson-Jack, states that the vacancies include positions for Imo State, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and three zonal slots. These zonal positions will be filled from the North-Central, North-East, and South-East zones, “selected in alphabetical order.”
To be eligible, applicants must meet several criteria:
- Be substantive directors on Grade Level 17 in the Federal Civil Service.
- Have at least two years of experience at the director level.
- Be verified on the IPPIS platform as confirmed government staff.
- Not be due for retirement before December 31, 2026.
- Provide proof of state of origin for the advertised vacancy; female applicants must claim indigeneity by birth, not by marriage.
- Have no pending disciplinary cases.
The circular also requires serving permanent secretaries to endorse that applicants are free from disciplinary matters. Supporting documentation must include confidential and personal files, updated CVs, and both hard and soft copies of a brief profile for each candidate.
All applications are to be submitted to the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase II, Abuja — the deadline is 4:00 p.m., August 12, 2025.
Since President Bola Tinubu took office, a total of 26 permanent secretaries have been appointed to address leadership gaps.
