By Emmanuel Abi Couson
The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has fixed December 23rd 2025 for promotion examinations for non – pool officers on salary grade levels 06-13 .
This was contained in an internal circular from the Human Resources Management Department, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment dated 9th December, 2025 with Reference FMLE/HRM/APD/56/S.3/CGN/11/20 addressed to All Directors ,Heads of Units, Zonal Controllers and State Controllers with the heading Conduct of year 20245 Promotion Examination for non-pool officers on SGLs 06-13 in the ministry states.
The circular was signed by Otu-Ekong Ntukidem, Deputy Director , Appointment and Discipline for Permanent Secretary.
It states: “I am directed to inform you that the Permanent Secretary has approved the Conduct of year 2025 Promotion for non-pool officers on SGLs 06-13 in the ministry scheduled to take place as follows: Pre- Examination Meeting;Date Wednesday 17th December 2025; Venue: Honourable Minister’s Conference Hall 2nd floor, Federal Secretariat Complex Phase 1 Abuja; Time :10am
“Consequently, conduct of the examination will now take place in the following six ( 6) designated Centres: I . North Central –Main Auditorium
Ground Floor, Federal Ministry of Finance, Central Business District Abuja .
¡¡ North West–Skill Acquisition Centre Kaduna.
iii North East –Skill Acquisition Centre Bauchi. iv South West –Federal Secretariat Complex, Ikolaba Ibadan. v.South East –Federal Secretariat, Independent Layout Enugu vi. South -South– Federal Secretariat Complex ,Aba Road Port Harcourt.
“You are by this circular advised to notify all eligible candidates in your Department/Units/Labour Offices to present themselves for the examination as scheduled:
Date: Tuesday , 23rd December,2025
Accreditation:8:am
Examination:11am”
The statement also listed documents that are needed for screening.
“The following documents will be required for accreditation purposes:
a. Letter/Gazette of Appointment and Confirmation of Appointment ( Original and photocopy)
b.Letter of last promotion ( where applicable,original and photocopy)
c.Staff Identification card; and
d: All new officers are expected to come a copy of Assumption of Duty Certificate ( where applicable, original and photocopy)
Kindly bring the content of this circular to the attention of all concerned Officers for strict compliance, please ”
The directives have caused confusion for many of the affected staff.
One of the affected workers complained about the timing, saying that the festive season with the huge traffic would make it very difficult for movement.
The ministry is aware that Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th are usually public holidays and therefore 23rd would witness heavy traffic on Nigeria roads that are not even motorable and want to risk the life of the workers in the guise of promotion examination.
It is so disheartening that the Federal Ministry of Labour can fix such an important examination on such a period of the year.
Those who are responsible for such a decision act without consideration of not only that there will be heavy vehicular movement but the insecurity that pervades the nation is also a thing of concern.
