Following the Federal Government’s reintroduction of the tenure policy in the public service, the General Manager, Public-Private Partnership (PPP) of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mrs. Ugo Madubuike and two Directors at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), who have spent more than eight years on Grade Level 17, are expected to retire from service.
Findings by SHIPS & PORTS revealed that Madubuike has been a General Manager in the authority for 14 years. She is the longest serving General Manager in NPA.
In NIMASA, Warredi Enisuoh and Felix Bob Nabena are also expected to retire from the agency having served as Directors for 10 years and 8.5 years respectively. Enisuoh has been on suspension for more than seven years because he is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside former NIMASA Director-General Patrick Akpobolokemi and others. Enisuoh has since picked up another job with a private security firm named Tantita Security, though his name still remains on the nominal role of NIMASA.
The Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation on July 28, 2023, launched the newly revised Public Service Rules which makes it compulsory for Permanent Secretaries and Directors/General Managers of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to retire from service after spending a maximum of eight years in the position.
Recall that the administration of late President Umaru Yar’Adua, introduced the tenure policy when Stephen Oronsaye served as Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
By a circular dated August 26, 2009, with reference number HCSF/061/S.1/III/68 titled “Tenure of Office for Permanent Secretaries and Directors,” the tenure policy was introduced into the Federal Civil Service.
The circular read: “As part of the continuing reforms in the Federal Civil Service, the government has found it necessary to develop a policy that will renew and reinvigorate the service, restore the morale of officers, and unlock the creative potential of hardworking officers. Accordingly, the government has approved that permanent secretaries shall hold office for a term of four years, renewable for a further term of four years, subject to satisfactory performance, and no more.
“In the case of directors, they shall compulsorily retire upon serving eight years on the post. This approval is without prejudice to the relevant provisions of the Public Service Rules, which prescribe 60 years of age and/or 35 years of service for mandatory retirement. Consequently, all serving permanent secretaries and directors who would have spent eight years on post by January 1, 2010, the effective date of this provision, are hereby notified for the purpose of commencing their pre-retirement activities, when due.”
By another circular with reference number HCSF/061/S.1/III/186 and dated October 21, 2009, the policy was made applicable to parastatals, agencies, and statutory corporations of the government, thereby widening its scope of application.
Already, the Federal Ministry of Finance has issued a circular asking those affected in the ministry to tender their resignations with immediate effect.
The circular, signed by the Director of Administration of the ministry, Mariya Rufai and dated August 3, 2023, was addressed to all directors and heads of units.
The circular titled “Implementation of Tenure Policy” read: “I write to refer you to the “2021 Revised Edition” of the Public Service Rules which takes effect from 27th July 2023. Consequently, all Directors (SGL 17) who have spent eight years and above on the post are by this Internal Circular directed to submit their notice of retirement in line with Section 020909 of the revised PSR effective from the date stated thereof.
“Accordingly, all affected directors are advised to commence the process of documentation with the Administration Department for compulsory retirement by virtue of the section under reference. Furthermore, the Directors in question should formally hand over to the most senior officers in their respective departments and surrender all official documents including identification cards as well as official vehicles (if any) before exiting.
“Please bring the content of this internal circular to the attention of all concerned for strict compliance.”
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