Recruitment: Over 200k applicants failed Civil Defence, Prison, Immigration’s CBT

Over 200,000 applicants have failed the online Computer-Based Test for the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services in the ongoing recruitment exercise. The test, held from November 12th to 19th, is part of the ongoing nationwide paramilitary recruitment process.

According to a statistical disclosure by the CDCFIB via its X post on Tuesday, 650,395 applicants obtained the pass mark (scored between 41-100), out of the 872,391 applicants who took the online exam. Only 142,697 scored above 80, representing 25.4% of applicants who took the exam.

Upon further breakdown, only 77.9% of candidates took the online examination, with 16.8% disqualified due to a series of violations, while 5.4% were absent.

Also, the highest number of applicants for the exam came from Kogi State, with 72,497, followed by Benue State with 66,496 applications. Others in the top 5 states are Kaduna State (64,730), Kano (50,678) and Niger (49,514).

Breakdown of the CBT results:

• 0-40: 221,996 (25.4%)
• 41 – 60: 229,155
• 61-80: 278,543
• 81-100: 142,697

The examination marked the third stage of the recruitment exercise. The first stage, the application phase, recorded over 1.9 million applicants, representing one of the highest and far more than the 573,000 applications received during the Nigerian Customs recruitment exercise early this year.

On a parastatals basis, statistics showed that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) recorded the highest applicants with 703,499, while the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) followed with 482,198. The Federal Fire Service (FFS) saw 406,491 saw applications, and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) saw 165,212.

For the second stage, in which applicants were shortlisted for the online examinations, 1,120,491 completed the application process and were considered. Incomplete applications amounted to 432,935, while 360,923 applicants were disqualified. 

The application process was marred by a series of complaints, which were all attributed to a technical glitch and slow response of the recruitment portal at the onset of the process.

Also Read: About 2 million Nigerians apply for Civil Defence, Prisons and Immigration recruitment online.

Paramilitary recruitment: issues with the CBT exercise 

The paramilitary recruitment online exam, conducted between November 12th and 19th, was marred by technical errors and a range of complaints by applicants.

Initially, the CDCFIB scheduled a physical CBT exam for applicants at various CBT centres nationwide. Days later, the board made adjustments by replacing the physical CBT with an online examination. According to the board, applicants were required to log in to the recruitment portal at the exact exam window selected during registration.

However, several applicants experienced technical issues, including the sudden disappearance of questions, incomplete questions, inability to log in, and sudden disqualification. Others complain that the exam was submitted without attempting a single question.

In response to the company, the board explained that applicants who experienced issues failed to adhere to the instructions guiding the process, resulting in their disqualification. Instructions such as having their device display the accurate date and time, prohibiting third-party interference and device manipulation.  

The recruitment exercise has now reached the Fourth Stage: Physical Screening and Document Verification, and applicants who passed the CBT exercise are expected to receive a call-up.