Obaseki Reintroduces Controversial Competency Test

By Victor Ofure Osehobo

Indications have emerged that Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki is set to reintroduce competency test for civil servants in the state.

Already civil servants are being invited with a letter, to write the competency test on August 15, 2017 at Imaguero College hall, Benin City.

The letter with reference No. HOS/276/116, dated August 9, 2017 was signed by Mr. Edmund Idahosa, Permanent Secretary in the Head of Service office.

The letter said those invited will be tested in the areas of Management paper, principles and practice in the public service, civil service rules and financial instructions, general knowledge, and Knowledge of intern and external environment.

They are also supposed to come to the venue with two passports, while sending one of them with their names on the back, to the office of the Head of service, Governor’s office, Benin City.

It would be recalled that under the previous state governor, Comrade Adam Oshiomhole, a court of competent jurisdiction had stopped the state government from conducting such a test for teachers in the state.

The teachers through their union had gone to court to ask for an order stopping the government from going ahead with the test.

Their decision was after weeks of protest by the teachers who were opposed to the program, seen as an attempt by the government to retrench teachers.

The government then, however constituted a panel chaired by Professor Dennis Agbonlahor to conduct the test for teachers across the state.

However, to the shock of the administration, teachers failed to show up at the designated centers on the day of the test. The Comrade Governor later scrapped the test.