JUST IN: FG REQUESTS DOCUMENTATION OF WORKERS’ APPROVAL FOR STUDY LEAVE

According to a directive from the federal government, all federal employees on study leave need to present documentation of their permission from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

This order was given in conjunction with the introduction of a new system for routinely verifying the whereabouts of employees inside the service to ensure that they are who they say they are. Folashade Yemi-Esan, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, commended this initiative.

This information was included in a memo that was distributed to all permanent secretaries during the week and distributed to media on Friday in Abuja.

According to reports, the administration took these actions in response to complaints made in August 2021 about government employees requesting study leaves and presenting admission letters from dubious overseas universities.

You may remember that steps were taken in 2022 to compel these workers to post bonds in order to guard against abuse of study leave entitlements.

While addressing the new development alongside the need for physical verification, Yemi-Esan, in the memo, said, “As part of the efforts to sustain the gains of the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System, it has become imperative to emplace a mechanism for regular physical verification of officers in the service.

“To this end, you are directed to carry out a physical verification exercise of all staff in your ministry to ascertain the location of each officer.

“Officers who may be on study leave must show evidence of the approval of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to embark on such leave. This should be indicated in the remark column.

“The report of the exercise, to be signed by the permanent secretary, should be submitted to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service on or before 2nd April 2024.”