FG to retire 1,050 civil servants in 3 weeks--Aji

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Bukar Aji, says 1,050 civil servants that are in the service illegally will be retired in the next three weeks.

Aji made the disclosure at the ongoing 60th anniversary celebration of the Nigeria Public Service Commission in Abuja.

He said that the screening done by Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) discovered that the 1,050 civil servants were supposed to have retired from the service long before now.

“Through the IPPIS, we are able to screen those who are supposed to have retired long time ago and they will leave the service within the next two to three weeks,’’ he said.

The head of the civil service said that it would create opportunity for those in legitimate service to be promoted.

Aji said that there had been synergy, cooperation and collaboration between the HOCSF and the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).

He assured that the Federal Civil Service would be better in 2014, adding that it would not relent in its efforts to improve the service.

The Chairman, FCSC, Mrs Joan Ayo said that the commission came into existence in April, 1954 with the functions of employing, promoting and disciplining of civil servants.

She said that since the commission was the gateway into the service and exit way, the commission should be guided by some rules.

“As the `entry into’ and ‘exit out’ the service, the FCSC is committed to the traditional core values of the civil service.’’

She listed the core values as including meritocracy, anonymity, integrity, political neutrality, discipline, impartiality, accountability and transparency.

Ayo said that the celebration was necessary in order to recall the exploits of the founding fathers of the civil service.

“We are celebrating the past and looking at where we have got it wrong, so we can improve and do it better,” she said.

The FCSC boss explained that the civil service was that organ of government that performed vital advisory role.

“The commission advises the government on policy, anticipating problems and deploying human, material and financial resources for effective execution of public policy.

The Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. Ayim Pius Ayim, said that government would ensure improved service.

Ayim, who was represented by Mr. Linus Awute, the Permanent Secretary, General Service of SGF, congratulated the efforts of the founding fathers who had worked tirelessly to ensure transparency and meritocracy.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the celebration is: ``Civil Service Core Values: The Sine Qua Non for National Development”.

NAN