CBT Will Eliminate Godfatherism in A’Ibom Recruitment – Eno

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has said that the introduction of the Computer-Based Test (CBT) method in the state’s recruitment process will drastically reduce the issue of godfatherism in the civil service.

The governor stated this after inspecting the newly established CBT Centre at the Civil Service Auditorium, State Secretariat Complex, Uyo, on Friday. He explained that the initiative is part of efforts to upgrade the quality of workers in the civil service for improved efficiency and productivity.

According to Eno, “The Civil Service is the engine room of governance. If we don’t get the Civil Service right, we will never get governance right. We need to have people who, at least, understand basic computer operations and are confident in what they are doing.

“Besides, the introduction of this CBT in our recruitment will considerably eliminate the issue of godfatherism in our system, allowing competence and merit to take the lead.”

The governor added that the CBT approach will encourage seriousness among applicants, as it will require them to prepare effectively for recruitment examinations.

“We need to be practical about it and eliminate all manner of encumbrances so that applicants can prepare adequately for the examination. If they perform well, they will be employed; if they fail, they can prepare better and try again next time,” he stated.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Science and Digital Economy, Dr Frank Ekpenyong, commended the governor for his vision and commitment to promoting merit and competence in the civil service.

Ekpenyong disclosed that the new CBT Centre can accommodate up to 400 applicants per session and is capable of handling about 2,000 candidates per day in scheduled batches.

In his remarks, the Head of the Civil Service, Elder Effiong Essien, thanked the governor for introducing innovation into the state’s recruitment process. He revealed that the CBT examination for applicants will commence in the next ten days, assuring candidates that the system is user-friendly and within their capability.