By Lucy Daniel
In an era where governance must match the dynamism of a digital and rapidly evolving global landscape, the move by Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State to digitize civil service recruitment through the introduction of Computer-Based Testing (CBT) is not only commendable but visionary. It signals a much-needed shift towards meritocracy, efficiency, and modernization in public administration.
Governor Eno’s inspection of the newly completed CBT Centre at the State Secretariat Complex in Uyo is a powerful statement of intent. His words ring with clarity: “If we don’t get the Civil Service right, we would never get governance right.” These are not mere platitudes. They underscore a strategic understanding of the civil service as the engine room of government a system that, if misaligned or compromised, hampers governance no matter how visionary the leadership.
Across Nigeria and many parts of Africa, recruitment into the civil service has historically suffered from endemic issues of nepotism, favouritism, and mediocrity. The consequence has been a bloated and often underperforming bureaucracy, resistant to innovation and ill-equipped for the digital age. By instituting a CBT-based recruitment process, Governor Eno is not only democratizing access to civil service jobs but also restoring public confidence in the integrity of the system.
This is a bold departure from the past. No longer will well-connected applicants edge out better-qualified candidates through “godfatherism.” Instead, competence, preparedness, and digital literacy will become the key determinants for entry—a standard that should be emulated by other states and even the federal government.
The Governor’s emphasis on the necessity of digital competence particularly in an era dominated by Artificial Intelligence and automation, is timely. Today’s civil servants must do more than push paper. They must analyze data, communicate across digital platforms, manage complex IT systems, and interact with citizens in a fast-paced information economy. That 400 applicants can be tested simultaneously, and 2,000 daily, at the new CBT Centre, speaks volumes about the scale of ambition and the seriousness with which the reform is being pursued.
This reform is not without its challenges. Digital infrastructure must be constantly maintained and updated. There will be initial resistance from those who benefited from the old order. And the state must ensure that the integrity of the CBT process is rigorously protected from technological failures or manipulations. But the potential gains far outweigh the risks.
For the youths of Akwa Ibom, particularly recent graduates and job seekers, this development is a beacon of hope. It signals that hard work and preparation, not political connections, are what will open the doors to public service careers. It also prepares them for the kind of digitized professional environments they will encounter globally.
Governor Eno’s civil service reforms offer a practical model for institutional strengthening, one that prioritizes capability over connection, and service delivery over bureaucracy. His approach is a quiet revolution, one that could redefine not just the Akwa Ibom State civil service, but serve as a template for administrative transformation across Nigeria and beyond.
In a country hungry for a systems that works, leadership that delivers, and a bureaucracy that is responsive and efficient, this is what good governance looks like.
Daniel, SA to the Governor on Media
writes from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
providencemaga@yahoo.com