Key Points

• The permanent secretary snub sparks outrage across ministries and civil society.

• Faith groups question the permanent secretary snub and demand full transparency.

• Critics demand clarity on selection rules driving recent controversial appointments.

After skipping over Dr. Emmanuel Adesina, a Christian candidate who reportedly did the best in the interview rounds for the most recent permanent secretary jobs, the federal government is once again facing criticism.

The unexpected omission has caused a storm in ministries, labour circles, and church networks. It has also made long-standing worries about fairness and openness in senior civil-service promotions even worse.

What started out as a quiet announcement of new jobs quickly turned into a national debate. According to internal documents shared by high-ranking officials in the Office of the Head of Service, Adesina came in first in the structured assessment that usually decides who is eligible for the elite cadre. But when the final list signed by Head of Service Folasade Yemi-Esan got to the press, his name wasn’t on it. Many people in the service were shocked by the exclusion because hierarchies and interview scores are usually seen as fixed points.

Lawmakers, faith leaders, and labour leaders want answers

Reactions spread quickly. Staff unions, including leaders from the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, talked in secret about how rules were being broken. Faith leaders like Rev. Daniel Ayoola of the Christian Civic Forum spoke out, asking the government to protect “the integrity of merit.” Meanwhile, social commentators on stations like Lagos Talk Radio framed the incident as another sign of growing distrust in federal appointments.

By the middle of the week, the issue had made its way to the National Assembly. Lawmakers, including Senator Ayo Balogun, said they were looking for more information from the Office of the Head of Service.

Inside the ministries, the mood has grown tense. Senior directors, who are already worried about political interference, are afraid that this case will set a bad example for future postings. Some people called the decision “confusing,” while others called it “unsettling.” But almost everyone agreed that the lack of response from officials has only made people more suspicious. One director said, “When you don’t explain a deviation, people will fill the void.”

People are calling for more openness while the government stays quiet

The civil service commission hasn’t given an official explanation yet, but people who work there say that the final decision came from a higher level of management, probably the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which is led by George Akume. That suggestion has only made the argument bigger.

Rights groups like the Centre for Public Accountability say that merit-based processes should not be put on hold without a good reason. Activists want the release of interview rankings, scoring sheets, and selection criteria to stop any more speculation.

The argument has also become a bigger symbol. Religious groups say that the case could make divisions worse at a time when the country is still trying to stay together. Policy experts also say that if the disagreement isn’t settled, it could lower the morale of career officers who rely on a steady, rules-based path to advancement.

As the pressure rises, government spokespeople have only given short assurances that “all procedures were followed.” But until there is a clear answer, the debate is likely to get bigger, raising questions about openness, representation, and the real limits of merit in Nigeria’s highest government positions.