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Civil
Servants Out of the Federal Secretariat Building, During the Fire Outbreak at a
Section of the Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday
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Title-crazy civil
servants are scared of being sacked, The Nation learnt at the weekend. Officials, who
violated the Public Service Rule banning titles until after retirement, may be
retired in the coming civil service reforms. Only those whose titles were
traditionally inherited may be spared but their postings and conduct will be
put under watch.
According
to sources, the government is disturbed that most of the top civil servants
with honorary awards actually bought them at high fees.
The Nation report continues:
The
affected civil servants violated the rules which grants them the right to such
honors only after retirement.
Besides
committing the resources of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAS) to such
awards, most of the civil servants used the window to “grant favour to groups,
persons, and communities in violation of their oath of office.”
A
highly-placed source said: “mass shake-up is imminent in the civil service.
Some corrupt elements at the top and chief executives of parastatals may be
removed or retired.
“Instead
of facing their duties, what we have been experiencing is that some permanent
secretaries, directors, chief executives of parastatals and top civil servants
have been indulging in a rat-race for honorary awards and chieftaincy titles.
“They
have used such awards to influence employment, promotion and even the sites of
projects. Such officials have no business in government again.”
The
government made refrence to two subsisting circulars, banning such indulgence
by civil servants.
They
include: April 6, 1998 circular Ref. No. 58358/S.5/C.1/32 and HCSF /062/S. I/
V/1/7 of 20th June 2013.
The
1998 circular, signed by a former Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Alhaji Gidado Idris, said: “The government has observed with
concern that the time honoured practice of honouring deserving persons with
honourary degrees, diplomas, fellowships, etc. is being abused.
“The
situation has deteriorated to the extent that laid down procedures for
bestowing such honours are no longer observed. In some cases, the intentions
for giving the award appear less than noble. It is hardly surprising that these
awards no longer command much respect.
“Accordingly,
serving public officers are hereby banned from accepting honorary degrees,
fellowships, etc. from local or foreign universities, polytechnics and other
higher institutions. This, of course, does not apply to fellowships and
memberships awarded by accredited professionals bodies to their bonafide
members. This circular takes immediate effect.”
The
2013 circular was issued by a former Head of the Civil Service of the
Federation, Bukar Goni Aji.
It
said: “It has come to the attention of the Office of the Head of the Civil
Service of the Federation that some Civil Servants are in the practice of
soliciting for chieftaincy titles and other sundry neutrality which are core
values of the Civil Service.
“Accordingly,
serving officers are hereby banned from accepting Chieftaincy titles until
after retirement from service. This is to stem the observed abuse in the award
of these titles and shield the civil servants from unnecessary distraction from
our core responsibilities.
“However,
where a civil servant must hold a traditional title bestowed on him/her by
inheritance or receive any award, due clearance must be obtained from the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation through the Office of the Head of
the Civil Service of the Federation. This circular takes immediate effect.”
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