Leaders of organised labour have rejected the alleged plan to extend the tenure of permanent secretaries beyond the legally stipulated limits, warning that such moves would violate the public service rules and damage the integrity of the civil service.
Their reactions followed reports of an alleged plan involving the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and the Ministry of Defence to extend the tenure of the Permanent Secretary representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Reacting to the development, the national president of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Comrade Tommy Etim Okon said any form of tenure extension remains unacceptable.
“The extension of the tenure of any permanent secretary is not acceptable to us. The appointment is based on a single tenure subject to renewal. Any Permanent Secretary that has spent the stipulated two terms should have no opportunity to remain in office,” Comrade Okon said.
He recalled that a female permanent secretary remained in office at the Federal Ministry of Petroleum after completing two terms totaling eight years.
“We rejected that. The same rule applies to all permanent secretaries in the federal civil service. Our position is clear, once the eight-year limit is reached, the officer should retire and give room for others to rise”, he said.
Also speaking, the National President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Comrade Mohammad Ibrahim expressed strong opposition to any “unwarranted extensions,” stating that they hinder upward mobility and morale among civil servants.
“We oppose any unwarranted extension of tenure for public officers. Such actions block opportunities for others due for promotion and can demotivate the entire workforce.
“Public Service Rules must be strictly adhered to. Leadership positions should rotate to give others a chance. Extending tenure without compelling justification sends the wrong message, encourages corruption, and stifles career progression,” he said.
In the same vein, the National President of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Comrade Makolo Hassan, called for strict compliance with the rules, warning against setting damaging precedents.
“The right thing should be done. Is the extension for another full four years or one or two years? It’s best the civil service rules are upheld in this case,” he cautioned.
“It is not in the best interest of Nigeria or the public service for anyone’s tenure to be extended. This kind of precedent could later haunt the entire system”, Hassan added.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) has denied the existence of such plan.
Recall that in a statement recently signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Mrs. Eno Olotu, OHCSF stated, “The OHCSF categorically denies any plan to request the extension of the tenure of either Mr. Aduda or any other permanent secretary.
“Any decision concerning the retirement or tenure of a Permanent Secretary is made strictly following the rules and subject to the approval of the appropriate authority.”
The statement also referenced Rule 020909(b) of the 2021 Public Service Rules, which stipulates that a permanent secretary shall hold office for four years, renewable once for another four years, subject to satisfactory performance.
In reaffirming the administration’s stance, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson Jack, emphasised her commitment to transparency, due process, and a merit-based civil service:
“These Rules are indeed the law. They have been enforced and will continue to be applied in the Federal Civil Service. I remain resolute in upholding the rule of law and transparency in public administration.”
She advised the public to disregard such misinformation that seeks to undermine the credibility of the service.
