The Edo State Government has taken another concrete step toward strengthening the civil service as the State Civil Service Commission (CSC) on Thursday conducted a Computer-Based Test (CBT) for candidates seeking employment as Agricultural and Environmental Officers.
The exercise, held in Benin City, is part of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s broader commitment to expanding employment opportunities for qualified Edo indigenes while ensuring strict adherence to merit and transparency.
Speaking to journalists at the CBT centre, the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, Mr. Sam Oko-Ose, mni, explained that the recruitment exercise targets vacancies in key sectors critical to grassroots development and food security.
According to him, the successful candidates will be deployed to the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Local Government, where they will serve as Agricultural and Community Development Officers.
Mr. Oko-Ose disclosed that more than 3,000 applications were received when the recruitment portal was opened, but only slightly above 400 applicants met the eligibility criteria and were shortlisted for the CBT.
“The significant drop in numbers was due to non-compliance with advertised requirements,” he said.
“We specified degree holders in relevant disciplines, yet many applicants with HNDs, unrelated qualifications, or third-class degrees applied. Some credentials simply did not align with the roles. We cannot appoint a medical doctor as an agricultural officer.”
He emphasized that the commission is operating strictly within the state’s established scheme of service and that the CBT represents just one phase of the recruitment process.
“Candidates who perform successfully in this test will proceed to the final stage, which is an oral interview. At that point, their credentials will be thoroughly verified, and they will be assessed by the commission,” Oko-Ose added.
Reiterating the commission’s commitment to fairness, the CSC chairman assured candidates that the process is being conducted by individuals with proven integrity and extensive public service experience.
“The members of this commission are people with track records to protect. Many of us have served as permanent secretaries and held other sensitive public offices. We cannot afford to compromise standards,” he said.
He also stressed that the commission shares the governor’s values and vision for the state.
“Governor Monday Okpebholo is a man of integrity, and we will not disappoint him or the people of Edo State. This recruitment will be based strictly on merit—no compromise, no negotiations.”
Some candidates who participated in the CBT commended the transparency of the exercise. Mrs. Omoregbe A. Rosemary, an applicant for Environmental Officer, and Mr. Aituayuwa Hawkins, who applied for Agricultural Officer, described the process as fair and well-organized, expressing hope that they would contribute meaningfully to public service if selected.
Observers say the CBT exercise underscores the Okpebholo administration’s determination to translate campaign promises into measurable action, particularly in revitalizing the Edo State civil service through credible and merit-driven recruitment.
