The House of Representatives plans to study promotion stagnation in the Federal Civil Service from 2013 to 2023.
The resolution followed a motion introduced by Rep. Salman Idris, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture Colleges and Institutions in Abuja.
He emphasized the need of promotion as a motivator for government servants to improve efficiency. Idris condemned the ongoing stagnation in promotions across the government’s Ministries, Departments, and Agency.
According to him, this has resulted in decreased service delivery, a fall in highly specialized skills, low levels of productivity and performance, employee unrest, corruption, and lowered 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.”
He said that the civil service remained the engine room of government, adding that it required a holistic reform that could promote global best practices.
He added that the issues of promotions and recommendations as and when due was imperative and should not be overlooked.
Idis said some civil servants who eventually get promoted and undergo mandatory examination as required by civil service rules were promoted notionally but not financially
He added that every NDAs Ministry, often make provision for such recurrent expenditure in the yearly appropriation.
He stated that each advancement stagnation would have an impact on the officer’s career.
He stated that every government worker was expected to reach the top of their careers within 35 years of active service or by the age of 60.
The House ordered that the committee on public sector and institutional changes shall look at promotion stagnation in the Federal Civil Service from 2013 to 2023.
The House indicated that this is in order to have a strong civil service at this vital moment of the nation’s growth, and that they would report back to the House within four weeks.
