Anambra State Faces Staffing Concerns as Soludo Government Delays Permanent Secretary Appointments

In Anambra State, there is a rising sense of unease among civil servants as Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration grapples with staffing challenges. The state government has yet to appoint Permanent Secretaries to replace those who have retired, leaving only six individuals to oversee a staggering 23 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Investigations within the State Civil Service reveal a situation where some of the remaining Permanent Secretaries are managing four Ministries each, while others are responsible for three. Over the past two years, at least 10 Permanent Secretaries have exited the service without replacements, despite qualified directors being available to fill these vacant positions.

Notably, a recent directive from Governor Soludo led to a written Computer-Based Test (CBT) for eligible directors vying for elevation to the role of Permanent Secretaries. However, even though some candidates scored above 70% and were recommended by the Head of Service, their appointments have yet to materialize.

Expressing frustration, one successful director shared, “It is 16 months since we attended this written interview. The results of CBTs are always ready immediately the candidate submits answers. My name is among the recommended list, but it beats my imagination why it’s taking this long for the Governor to make these appointments.”

The director highlighted that 273 candidates applied for the Permanent Secretary positions, with over seventy coming from the private sector, as per Governor Soludo’s insistence on including individuals from that sector. The CBT, organized by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC), revealed that civil servants performed commendably, while candidates from the private sector fared poorly.

Despite the delay and mounting concerns, the Anambra State government has yet to address the lingering staffing issues, leaving the civil service in a state of uncertainty.