FG Directs MDAs to Submit 2026 Vacancy Returns Ahead of Directorate Promotion Exercise
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to submit their 2026 Vacancy Returns for officers on Salary Grade Levels (SGLs) 15, 16 and 17 as part of preparations for the forthcoming Directorate Level Promotion Exercise.
The directive was conveyed in a circular dated June 29, 2026, and signed on behalf of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation by the Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office. According to the circular, the exercise is aimed at determining available vacancies across the Federal Civil Service to facilitate a smooth and transparent promotion process.
The OHCSF instructed all affected MDAs to forward their vacancy returns on or before Wednesday, July 15, 2026. The submissions are expected to capture vacancies that occurred between January 1 and December 31, 2025, in line with each MDA’s approved organisational structure and authorised establishment.
The circular further directed that the submissions should be accompanied by relevant supporting documents, including updated nominal rolls of officers on SGLs 15–17, records of officers who exited the service during the period under review, the approved organisational structure, the authorised establishment, and the duly completed Annexure 3B.
To ensure transparency and accuracy, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation disclosed that bilateral meetings would be held with Directors of Human Resources and Administration from the affected MDAs to verify the submitted vacancy returns before the commencement of the promotion exercise.
The Office also urged all MDAs to submit their returns electronically in Excel format through the designated official email addresses, warning that failure to comply within the stipulated deadline may be interpreted as having no vacancies for the 2026 Directorate Level Promotion Exercise.
