The House of Representatives has requested that the Federal Government investigate the alleged stagnation of civil service promotion between 2013 and 2023 to ensure efficient and effective public service delivery.
The House took the decision sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by the member representing Ijumu/Kabba-Bunu Federal Constituency, Kogi State, Mr. Salman Idris on the floor of the House during plenary on Tuesday, according to The Punch.
Highlighting the importance of the civil service in delivering democratic dividends to the people, the congressman, while leading the debate, stated that promotion is crucial for the career growth of civil workers and serves as a motivational incentive for productivity and performance.
He, however, noted that “Over the years, stagnation in promotions across Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government have resulted in a loss of service delivery, a decline in highly specialised skills, a low level of productivity and performance, employee unrest, corruption, and dampened morale.”
Idris further said that the Nigerian public service required complete reform, as well as timely and fair promotions and remunerations, to conform with global best practices.
He said “Some civil servants who undergo mandatory examinations are promoted nominally but not financially, despite adequate recurrent expenditure in the annual appropriations budget for Ministries, Departments and Agencies,” adding that “that promotion stagnation affects the career of an officer in service, as every civil servant is expected to reach his career peak within 35 years of active service or by the retirement age of 60 years.”
Following the motion’s unanimous adoption, the House directed its Public Service Matters and Public Sector and Institutional Reforms Committees to investigate promotion stagnation in the Federal Civil Service from 2013 to 2023 to promote a more effective and efficient civil service and to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
