Finance ministry orders senior directors to resign

• The Federal Ministry of Finance has directed directors who have served for eight years in the directorate cadre to submit their notices for early retirement
• The revised Public Service Rules state that Permanent Secretaries will now serve for four years, subject to renewal based on performance evaluations

According to our correspondent, the Federal Ministry of Finance has ordered that all directors who have spent eight years in the directorate cadre tender their notices for early retirement in accordance with the new tenure limit introduced for directors in the Federal Civil Service.

A memo signed by the ministry’s Director of Administration, Mariya Rufai, and dated August 3, 2023, was sent to all directors and heads of ministry units.

The Federal Government instituted a tenure policy for Permanent Secretaries in the newly revised rules. Though the rule states that Permanent Secretaries will now serve for four years, it also states that their tenure is subject to renewal based on performance evaluations. It also states that directors who serve for eight years must retire at the end of the period.

Our correspondent also learned that the Federation’s Head of Civil Service, Folashade Yemi-Esan, called for the PSR to be implemented immediately in a memo to all ministries.

Following her directive, the Ministry of Finance in the memo said;

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.