“‘Ministries Accused of Unauthorized Promotions for Special Civil Servants’”

Babatunji Wusu –

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, has issued a stern reminder to ministries and agencies about adhering to the established processes when conducting promotion exercises for special civil servants. A memo, signed by the Head of Civil Service, Didi Walson-Jack, cautioned ministries against bypassing due process in the promotion of deserving civil servants, highlighting the importance of compliance with the rules governing such promotions.

The memo, dated October 28, 2024, specifically emphasizes that any requests for special promotions must be submitted to the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) for approval. It pointed out that promotions for special civil servants should follow the procedures outlined in the *Guidelines for Appointments, Promotion, and Discipline* (2004 Edition), particularly Part IV, Section 24.

Walson-Jack’s memo was addressed to a wide range of government officials, including the Chief of Staff to the President, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, ministers, heads of various departments, and agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), as well as permanent secretaries.

The directive makes it clear that any requests for special promotions should first be recommended by the Permanent Secretary and forwarded to the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission through the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation. This procedure must be followed to ensure proper approval and avoid any irregularities.

The memo stresses that strict compliance with these guidelines is necessary to maintain the integrity of the promotion process within the civil service. The government is clearly taking steps to ensure that promotions are made in a fair and transparent manner, in line with established protocols.