Ministry of information shuns HoS order, extends ‘retirement’ of senior officials
The Federal Ministry of Information and Culture (FMIC) has ignore a Federal Government directive on compulsory retirement of directors who have spent eight years or above in service. The directive, issued on July 27 by the Head Of Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Folasade Yemi – Esan, is based on the revised Public Service Rules (PSR).
However, Grace Okani, the human resources manager (HRM) in the information ministry, has issued a counter directive that allows additional three months to tenure of the affected directors before their disengagement.
Okani’s counter directive states: “Accordingly, affected officers are hereby, in line with Rules 021210 of the Public Service Rules, given three months to prepare their disengagement from service effective 1st August 2023.
“Futhermore, all Resident Informations Officers (RIOs) affected by the Circular are directed to act accordingly in line with extant rule for disengagement from service,” the circular stated.
Those protected by Okani’s counter directive, but due for retirement, are the Director of Federal Government Press, Itu Itu, Director of Finance and Account (DFA), Kayode Musbau and Willie Bassey, Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The new circular has generated grumbling among the staff of the Ministry, the ICIR, which originally published the report, claimed.
The report equally stated that the some ministries, department and agencies have already complied with the initial directive.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ngozi Onwudiwe, reportedly responded to the story, saying that the “the memo from the Head of Service was not too specific. Under normal circumstances in the Civil service, you are entitled to three months to prepare before retirement.
‘But there is another memo on the way. It will come out before the close of work today or tomorrow,” Onwudiwe said.
Credit: ICIR
