Senior civil servants in Adamawa State are getting increasingly impatient over random extension of terms of permanent secretaries across the ministries, departments and agencies.
The senior government workers are complaining that the possibilities for higher offices for them, possibly as permanent secretaries themselves, are being blocked by retention of permanent secretaries who should retire.
Even junior and middle cadre civil servants accuse the government of undermining the service through backdoor appointments.
Investigation revealed that at least six permanent secretaries currently serving in the state had already retired but were returned by executive fiat.
Several senior civil servants who spoke in confidence for fear of being targeted for punishment, expressed the conviction that holding on to permanent secretaries who have served their term is responsible for widespread discontent and growing indiscipline in the civil service.
“We are confronted with a skewed and strange anomaly which has become the new normal,” a director on grade level 17 cried.
Another government worker asserted that the situation has caused stagnation in career progression, particularly for directors who have spent several years waiting for a rise
“It is demoralizing to see people who have reached the age of retirement still occupying seats that should have been vacated for younger officials,” a different source said.
They insisted that keeping civil servants beyond their time is a violation of civil service rules which dictate retirement at age 60 years or 35 years in service, depending on which comes first in individual cases.
Responding to the criticisms, however, the state Head of Service, Isa Ardo, said governors, like the president, have the prerogative to retain the services of retired officials on contract based on peculiar exigency.
“Generally, civil service has a window. If somebody retires and the government still needs his services, he can be given a contract appointment or tenure extension. This is at the discretion of the governor, and there is nothing illegal about it.”
Rejecting the argument that retaining permanent secretaries hinders promotion for serving officers, Ardo said, “Let me correct that notion. If you are due for promotion, you will be promoted. Somebody’s extension does not stop another person’s promotion. Extension is a temporary arrangement for specific roles, while promotions are governed by merit, qualifications, and vacancies.”
Ardo added that the appointment of permanent secretaries is guided by specific criteria, including federal character principles and local government representation.
“Some complained that they have not been promoted, but many of them do not even meet the criteria to qualify,” he said, adding that during the last examinations, some candidates were disqualified because they falsified records or did not have the required number of service years. These are issues they don’t tell the public,” the head of service said.
Conflict brews in Adamawa as civil servants flay perm secs tenure extension