The Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, has stated that he brought in external examiners to conduct the Staff Promotion Examinations to ensure objectivity.
Making this known, while addressing candidates during the NICO 2013 Promotion Exam at the Public Service Institute, Abuja, Ayakoroma said experience had shown that when an independent body organizes such exams, sentiments are ruled out.
His words: “When I came in, I taught it wise to add a certain level of objectivity in the promotion exams. So, I said instead of in-house examiners, let us bring in independent examiners. So, we brought in the Department of Theatre and Cultural Studies, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, to conduct the examinations. We are all aware that the University is the first in Nigeria to start 
Theatre and Cultural Studies as a full-fledged department. Our Institute has affiliation with NSUK. Their coming in is not to make the exam difficult; it is to add more objectivity to the exam. I am saying this because I have been teaching all my life, conducting examinations and know that exams are meant to test the knowledge of students.”
Continuing, he advised them to adhere strictly to the rules and regulations guiding the conduct of examinations, concentrate, and eschew all forms of malpractices, as any person caught will be dealt with summarily.
Also speaking, the Director, Administration and Human Resources, Barr. Abayomi Oyelola, mni, urged candidates to adhere to the counselling of the ES, by trying their best, because the demands of an exam is to test the knowledge of staff in their job areas, adding: “You may find yourselves somewhere tomorrow, then there would be need for the experience you have acquired in the place you are working. So, it is important you are tested to make sure you are growing in your experience in your job schedule. We are doing the exam with transparency.”
Nwagbo Pat Obi
Corporate Affairs