Directors in ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Civil Service are reported to be defying the directive issued by the Federal Government of Nigeria which mandates their compulsory retirement.
Reportedly, these directors, who have held their positions for eight years, were given this directive on July 27, 2023. it’s noted that more than 500 directors, affected by this new rule, have yet to adhere to it.
The new requirement, calling for the affected directors to step down, follows the updated Public Service Rule (PSR) and a circular issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan. This circular was sent to the heads of MDAs, instructing them to ensure compliance with the revised PSR and the new rule.
The revised PSR was introduced last month at a public service lecture hosted at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The Head of Service revealed that its implementation commenced immediately after the launch.
“Following the approval of the revised Public Service Rules by the Federal Executive Council on the 27th of September 2021 and its subsequent unveiling during the public service lecture commemorating the 2023 Civil Service Week, the PSR has become operational starting from 27th July 2023.
Therefore, you are required to ensure complete adherence to all provisions of the Public Service Rules, 2021. Kindly guarantee strict compliance with the contents of this circular,” stated the Head of Service.
The circular highlighted that this new rule aims to provide opportunities for deputy directors within the Federal Civil Service, some of whom have remained at Grade Level 16 for approximately a decade, to ascend to the director cadre. This alteration is expected to lead to the compulsory retirement of over 500 directors across the civil service, all at Grade Level 17, who have spent more than eight years in their current roles.
