The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the issue of promotion stagnation in the Federal Civil Service spanning from 2013 to 2023.
This resolution follows a motion put forward by Rep. Salman Idris, the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions in Abuja.
In his motion, Idris emphasized that promotion is essential for the progression of civil servants and serves as a motivational incentive for productivity. He expressed concern over the persistent stagnation in promotions across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of the government.
According to Idris, this stagnation has led to a decline in service delivery, a loss of highly specialized skills, low productivity and performance levels, employee unrest, corruption, and dampened morale.
“The menace of promotion stagnation in the civil service calls for urgent attention and intervention of this hallowed chamber if the policies and programmes of Government must be achieved,” Idris stated.
He highlighted that the civil service is the engine room of government, requiring holistic reforms to promote global best practices. He stressed the importance of timely promotions and recommendations as outlined in civil service rules.
Idris noted that some civil servants, even after undergoing mandatory examinations required for promotion, were only promoted notionally without corresponding financial benefits. He pointed out that every Ministry, Department, and Agency typically allocates funds for such recurrent expenditures in their annual budgets.
He warned that promotion stagnation adversely affects the careers of civil servants, who are expected to reach the pinnacle of their careers within 35 years of active service or by the retirement age of 60 years.
The House has directed the Committee on Public Sector and Institutional Reforms to investigate the promotion stagnation in the Federal Civil Service from 2013 to 2023. This investigation aims to ensure a robust civil service at this critical stage of the nation’s development, with the committee expected to report back to the House within four weeks.
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