Despite a new rule requiring directors in ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Civil Service in Nigeria to proceed on compulsory retirement after spending eight years in their positions, more than 500 directors have yet to comply with the directive.
This contravention of the rule comes as a result of the revised Public Service Rule (PSR) and circular issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, urging MDAs to enforce adherence to the new regulation.
The revised PSR was introduced during a public service lecture at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, and its implementation started immediately after the launch.
This new stipulation aims to provide opportunities for deputy directors within the Federal Civil Service to advance to the position of director, as some have been stuck on Grade Level 16 for around a decade. However, more than 500 directors on Grade Level 17 who have surpassed eight years in their roles are supposed to undergo mandatory retirement as per this rule.
Despite these efforts, numerous directors have failed to comply with the directive. Some instances have been observed where affected directors are not adhering to the new policy, leading to additional directives from ministries to ensure compliance.
The revised PSR also introduced changes to the role of Permanent Secretaries, stating that they will hold office for a term of four years, which can be renewed upon satisfactory performance evaluations.
While there appears to be some commitment to the directive in certain ministries, the level of compliance remains insufficient in various departments and agencies.
The government’s move to revise the PSR began in 2011 with the establishment of a committee on the restructuring and rationalization of government parastatals, commissions, and agencies. Subsequent actions and the implementation of the White Paper report faced delays, leading to the eventual introduction of the revised PSR in November 2021.
In light of these developments, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation issued a circular addressing all Permanent Secretaries and relevant authorities to enforce the revised PSR from July 27, 2023.
The revised PSR specifies that directors or their equivalents in MDAs must retire after serving eight years on tenure policy, and Permanent Secretaries can hold office for up to two terms of four years each, contingent upon satisfactory performance
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