Presidency suspends tenure policy in federal civil service

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the suspension of tenure policy in the federal civil service with immediate effect.

The policy which was introduced by a former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Steve Oronsaye, during the administration of late President Umaru Yar'Adua, prescribed two terms of four years each for permanent secretaries and an eight-year tenure for directors.

The policy had also affected top level officers in federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

A statement issued on Monday evening by the Director of Communication in the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Haruna Abdulrasheed Imrana, said the directive was contained in a circular to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, signed by the HOCSOF, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita.

He said, 'The circular which conveyed the President's directive on the suspension said the suspension is with immediate effect and all concerned are to comply accordingly.'

Imrana said that 'with this circular now, that eight years which was introduced a couple of years back has now been suspended. It means that you can now stay in the civil service until you are 35 years in the service or until you are 60 years in age.'