The Auditor-General for the Federation, Dr Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira, has warned that inadequate capacity in the public service could undermine the effective implementation of government policies, management of public resources and delivery of services.

Chira urged public servants to broaden their knowledge and continuously upgrade their professional skills, saying the growing complexity of government operations required a more competent, efficient and accountable workforce.

He spoke at the launch of ‘The Next Level: Questions and Answers for Public Service Examinations’, a book authored by Adesoye Tajudeen, a director in the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation.

The Auditor-General described the Nigerian public service as the “engine room” of policy implementation, public accountability and service delivery, stressing that continuous capacity development had become essential as government responsibilities expanded.

According to him, public servants could no longer rely solely on existing knowledge as the public sector faced increasingly complex demands involving financial management, procurement, taxation, auditing, regulation and technology.

“As the responsibilities of government continue to expand in scope and complexity, there is an increasing need for public servants to continually enhance their knowledge, skills and professional competence to remain effective, relevant and responsive to the expectations of government and citizens alike,” he said.

Chira said promotion examinations should not be viewed merely as hurdles to career advancement but as mechanisms for determining whether officers were adequately prepared to assume greater responsibilities and leadership positions.

He described the book as a contribution to capacity development in the public service, noting that it covered critical areas including audit practice, financial regulations, public service rules, foreign service regulations, procurement procedures and taxation.

He said the practical orientation of the publication was particularly important because the questions were designed to test not only knowledge but its application to public-sector operations.

The Auditor-General disclosed that the Federal Civil Service Commission had adopted the publication as particularly relevant to the ongoing transition to computer-based testing (CBT) for directorate cadre promotion examinations.

According to him, the shift to CBT had changed the requirements for examination preparation, making it necessary for candidates to combine subject-matter knowledge with familiarity with technology-driven assessment.

Chira urged public servants, particularly officers aspiring to leadership positions, to embrace continuous learning beyond the immediate objective of passing promotion examinations.

Reviewing the publication, the acting director in the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation, Shaibu Sikiru, described the book as a major relief for public servants preparing for promotion examinations amid demanding work schedules.

He said the publication covered major areas from which promotion examination questions were usually drawn, including professional practice, public service rules and current affairs.

The author, Tajudeen, said his personal experience preparing for promotion examinations inspired the book.