President Bola Tinubu has appointed Mr. Adeladan Olarinre and Mr. Mukhtar Muhammed as permanent secretaries in the Federal Civil Service, filling existing vacancies.
Olarinre will represent Oyo State, while Muhammed will serve as the representative for the North-West geopolitical zone.
The announcement was made by Mrs Eno Olotu, director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), in a statement released on Wednesday in Abuja.
The statement revealed that the appointments were the result of an absolute and transparent selection process aimed at ensuring merit and competence in the civil service.
According to Olotu, the newly appointed officials are expected to bring their expertise and experience to their respective roles, enhancing the efficiency of public service delivery and alignment with developmental objectives.
“The new permanent secretaries are urged to bring wealth of their experiences and expertise to their roles, which will further strengthen the delivery of public services and support the government’s development agenda,” she stated.
The selection process for these appointments involved multiple stages including candidates required to be Grade Level 17 officers who had served in the Federal Civil Service for at least two years.
Those who met the criteria underwent a written examination set and evaluated by serving and retired permanent secretaries.
A list of qualified candidates was then compiled by the Career Management Office (CMO) within the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, before being further scrutinised by a Committee of Permanent Secretaries under the supervision of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS).
In response to the appointments, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, commended President Tinubu for prioritising professionalism and transparency in the civil service.
She described the move as a demonstration of the administration’s focus on ensuring an effective public service. “These appointments reflect the administration’s dedication to fostering a competent and results-oriented public service that meets the needs of Nigerians,” she said.
This appointment follows similar ones made in December 2024, when the Federal Government named eight new permanent secretaries from different states and geopolitical zones to fill various vacancies.
Earlier in June 2024, another set of eight permanent secretaries had been appointed from regions including Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Jigawa, Ondo, and Zamfara.
