Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has officially approved the confirmation of the appointment for a significant number of personnel within the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). A total of 1,659 workers are set to have their appointments confirmed, a decision that followed a rigorous confirmation examination process conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission.

The confirmation examination, a crucial step in formalizing the employment status of these workers, took place on February 28. According to Lere Olayinka, media aide to Minister Wike, a comprehensive assessment was carried out for 2,281 FCTA staff members. Initially, 2,512 workers had been invited to participate in this examination, highlighting a notable disparity between those invited and those who ultimately sat for the assessment.

Emeka Ezeh, the Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, as quoted by Olayinka, provided further details on the examination process. Ezeh stated, "A total of 2,512 candidates were invited to present themselves for the confirmation examination, but only 2,281 turned up for the examination." This absence of 224 officers has raised concerns and is reportedly "fuelling suspicion that they could be ghost workers," indicating a potential issue within the FCTA's payroll system.

The workers whose appointments are now confirmed had been employed several years prior, with some dating back to 2016 and 2019. Others were employed more recently, shortly before Minister Wike assumed office in August 2023, suggesting a backlog in the confirmation process that is now being addressed.

Beyond the current confirmations, the FCT Civil Service Commission is also looking ahead, with plans already concluded to conduct both the 2025 and 2026 promotion exercises. This forward-looking approach underscores a commitment to regularizing staff progression and development within the administration. This initiative follows a previous approval by Minister Wike in January, where over 2,000 workers in Abuja received immediate promotions. Those promotions were a result of examinations conducted from November 25 to 29, 2023, demonstrating a continuous effort to enhance the FCTA workforce.