Lawmakers urge FG to probe stagnation in civil service promotions

The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to conduct an investigation into the alleged stagnation of promotions within the civil service between 2013 and 2023.

Aiming to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of public service delivery.

The House took this action after adopting a motion introduced by Mr. Salman Idris, the representative of Ijumu/Kabba-Bunu Federal Constituency in Kogi State, during the House’s plenary session on Tuesday.

The lawmaker highlighted the importance of the civil service in delivering democracy dividends to the people, and argued that promotions are essential for the career advancement and motivation of civil servants, driving them to excel in their roles and deliver quality public services.

He, however, stated 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, a member of the African Democratic Congress, further stated that the Nigerian civil service requires a comprehensive reform and timely and fair promotions and remunerations to align with global best practices.

In his words, “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.”

The House of Representatives unanimously adopted the motion and subsequently directed its Committees on Public Service Matters and Public Sector and Institutional Reforms to investigate the stagnation of promotions in the Federal Civil Service from 2013 to 2023, with a view to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the civil service, and to report back within four weeks for further action.