The acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Dr. Habiba Lawal, has condemned the indiscriminate and clandestine recruitments in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) under the federal government.
Dr. Lawal, who disclosed this in circular entitled “Streamlining Procedures for Recruitment into Federal Agencies,” and addressed to top government functionaries including Chief of Staff to the President, officials of the National Assembly, service chiefs and heads of MDAs, said the practice must stop immediately
She expressed concerns that the recruitments of staff by the MDAs in flagrant disregard of rules and established procedures have ballooned government’s payroll.
She said the recruitment, under the guise of replacement of existing staff, is perpetuating nepotism and regional imbalances in the public service, and affecting government’s ongoing reform of its payroll and personnel cost management by creating a pool of ghost workers, and .
She said if the practice continues unabated, government stands the risk of inability to pay workers’ salaries, budget shortfalls and increase in its payroll which is already over 40 per cent of total government expenditure.
She said: “Government has decided to streamline the process and procedures for recruitment and appointment into the public service in conformity with the guidelines: Adherence to manpower budget for proposed recruitment which must be approved by the supervising agency or ministry. Obtaining of waiver to recruit from the office of the Head of Service of the Federation.
“Appropriate budgetary provisions to accommodate the proposed recruitment. Letter of clearance from the director general of the budget office of the federation to confirm budgetary provision for the proposed recruitment .
“Approval of Federal Character Commission for the distribution of vacancies for the proposed recruitment to ensure equitable distribution of vacancies among the states. Obtaining certificate of clearance for the Federal character commission for the recruitment.
“Representation of the Federal Civil Service Commission as observers in the recruitment process in the ministries. Representatives of the office of the head of service of the federation in other to ensure compliance with extant rules and provision of recruitment.
“In case of agencies/parasatals appropriate representation of supervising ministries and agencies to provide necessary guidance and give credibility to the exercise. Permanent secretaries and heads of extra-ministerial departments would be held personally responsible for ensuring strict compliance with this circular.
“The implementation of the provisions of the circular takes immediate effect. Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all staff and ensure strict compliance.”
