Investigate stagnation in civil service promotion, lawmakers tell FG

The House of Representatives wants the Federal Government to investigate the stagnation of promotion in civil service from 2013 to 2023.

The House took the decision sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by the member representing Ijumu/Kabba-Bunu Federal Constituency, Kogi State, Mr Salman Idris on the floor of the House during plenary on Tuesday.

Highlighting the significance of the civil service in the delivery of democracy dividends to the people, the lawmaker while leading the debate, added that promotion is essential for the career progression of civil servants and serves as a motivational incentive for productivity and performance.

He, however, said over the years, stagnation in promotions across Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government has resulted in loss of service delivery, decline in highly specialised skills, 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 comprehensive reform, 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, promotion stagnation affects the career of an officer in service, as every civil servant is expected to reach his career peak within 35 years in active service or by the retirement age of 60 years.”

Following the unanimous adoption of the motion, the House mandated its Committees on Public Service Matters and Public Sector and Institutional Reforms to investigate promotion stagnation in the Federal Civil Service from 2013-2023 to encourage a more effective and efficient civil service and report within four weeks for further legislative action.

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