Otti enforces 8-year retirement policy for Perm Secs, Directors

The Alex Otti administration has revived an old strategy to control the length of service for high-ranking government employees, thus avoiding the pervasive problem of “sit-tight” syndrome.

In a circular dated September 19, 2023, the state Head of Service(Hos), Joy I. Maduka, made the announcement, stating that it was in keeping with the ongoing sanitization of the public service.

The circular No. HSA/S.0074/11/91 from August 1, 2011 brought back the maximum eight-year term for Permanent Secretaries and Directors.

The administration of Theodore Orji, having accomplished its initial goal, abandoned the circular.

The Okezie Ikpeazu administration, which followed, disregarded the regulation and allowed many public retirees to remain on staff.

However, the current HoS stated that the administration “has found it necessary to reinstate (the) policy,” regarding the length of service for Permanent Secretaries, Directors, and the Heads of Non-Ministerial Departments.

She said the policy “will reinvigorate the Public Service, restore morale of officers, and unlock the new Abia of hard working officers” and that the decision was made as part of ongoing changes in the country.

The HoS announced that the government had approved a four-year term of office for permanent secretaries and the heads of non-ministerial departments.

However, she did note that the term was extendable for another four years “subject to satisfactory performance and no more” and that directors “will compulsorily retire after serving eight years.”

According to the HoS, Rule 02809 of the Abia State Public Service Rules would continue to be in effect regardless of the policy on tenure for top civil officers.

According to the aforementioned Rule, civil officials are required to leave their positions upon reaching the earlier of age 60 or 35 years of pensionable service.

This change will affect all Permanent Secretaries, Department Heads other than Ministerial, and Directors who have been in their current positions for eight years or more as of January 1, 2024.

Top government officials who are certain to perish in the storm have been told to “begin their retirement activities.”

“This is to obviate any form of delay in receiving their retirement benefits,” the HoS stated, adding that the retirees had to give the government three months’ notice.

All of the Permanent Secretaries who have been on suspension since June have had their fates effectively sealed by the adoption of this circular.