The Federal Government has narrowed down the number of directors jostling to become the nation’s Accountant-General to seven.

The seven finalists were picked from the 20 shortlisted directors earlier cleared by anti-corruption agencies to contest for the vacant position.

In the first test organised by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation for the 20 shortlisted directors, 10 directors failed.

They scored below 50 per cent, therefore leaving the other 10 that passed in the race.

“The under-listed candidates are invited to the oral interview stage of the process of appointing a substantive Accountant-General of the Federation following their successful performance in Stages I and 2 of the exercise,” a circular dated January 25, 2023, and signed by Dr Ernest Umakhikhe on behalf of the examination committee read.

The oral interview conducted last Thursday marked the end of the process leading to the appointment of the new Accountant-General.

It is expected that the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation will announce the winner of the oral interview as the new Accountant-General any time from now.

The nation’s anti-graft agencies had cleared 20 directors drawn from different Ministries, Departments and Agencies to take part in the process leading to the filling of the vacancy.

The vacancy followed the arrest of former AGF, Ahmed Idris, in July 2022, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the alleged misappropriation of N109bn and his subsequent suspension and prosecution.

The 20 shortlisted candidates that took part in the process are Danladi Comfort, Gombe (Interior); Mohammed Yar’Abba, Sokoto (Fire Service); Mufutau Bukola, Oyo (Transportation); Mahmud Kambari, Borno (North East Development Commission); Mohammed Dojo, Gombe (Interior); and Waziri Samuel, Borno (Agriculture and Rural Development).

Others are Maiden Sakirat, Ogun (OHCSF); Adaramoye Oluwole, Ekiti (Humanitarian Affairs); Isa Abubakar, Yobe (Science, Technology and Innovation); Ogunsemowo Olakunle, Ogun (Environment); Egbokhale Charity, Edo (NFF); Ibrahim Jibo, Kano (National Boundary Commission); Ogbodo Nnam, Enugu (National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission); and Bakare Juliannah, Ekiti (NPF). (The PUNCH)

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