President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan as the Acting Head of Civil Service of the Federation with immediate effect.
Yemi-Esan, who is the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, takes over from Mrs Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, who has been directed to proceed on an indefinite leave to allow conclusion of the investigation being carried out by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The President has also approved the extension of the tenure of seven retiring Permanent Secretaries for a period of one calendar year with effect from October 1, 2019 to ensure stability in the Federal Civil Service and effective delivery on the nine priority areas of the administration as well as the mandates given to the new Ministers.
The affected Permanent Secretaries are Mrs Georgina Ehuriah, Ministry of Interior; Mrs Ifeoma I. Anagbogu, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs; Mrs Grace Gekpe, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture; and Dr Umar M. Bello, Federal Ministry of Agriculture Rural Development.
Others are Suleiman Mustapha Lawal, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mrs. Comfort C. Ekaro – Federal Ministry of Water Resources; and Mr Olusegun A. Adekunle, General Services Office (Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation).
A statement issued by the Director of Information in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Mr Willie Bassey said the president has also directed the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to commence the process for the selection of new Permanent Secretaries to replace all retiring Permanent Secretaries.
The statement said the decision to extend the tenure of the Permanent Secretaries is premised on the need to ensure that the new ministers are properly guided, briefed about their sectors and to ensure that a solid foundation is laid for the delivery on the presidential mandate which they jointly signed.
“The Permanent Secretaries will also help the Ministers to manage the process for the preparation of the 2020 Budget in line with the commitment of government to return to the January-December budget cir cle and help develop various policies and programmes aimed at lifting 100million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years.
“The action of Mr. President is in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 171 (2) d of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended,” the statement said.
