No fewer than 65 civil servants on the directorate cadre are currently jostling to be appointed principals of some of the nation’s unity schools, as the process of selection commenced Tuesday, July 25, 2023, in Abuja.

According to a memo dated July 10, 2023, signed by the Director of Human Resources of the Federal Ministry of Education, David Gende, who noted that the candidates would undergo a two-stage selection process comprising a Computer Based Test and an oral interview stage.

The memo, titled “Commencement of the Process for Selection of Principals in Federal Unity Schools to Replace Principals That Have Spent Six Years and Above.”

On the list attached to the memo, a total of 65 candidates who were shortlisted would jostle for the available spaces.

The memo partly read, “Further to the implementation of the Six years tenure policy for principals in Federal Unity Colleges approved in 2022, the Permanent Secretary has approved the commencement of the process for selection of new Principals to fill the vacancies created by those who have completed their tenure.”

The memo also revealed that the oral interview will be held between July 27 and 28, 2023.

Access24 reports that in 2022, 334 civil servants sat for the qualifying examinations as principals, while about 137 failed the CBT examinations, with 112 of the candidate making the final cut.