The House of Representatives, driven by a motion from Rep. Salman Idris, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions in Abuja, has decided to investigate the stagnation of promotions in the Federal Civil Service from 2013 to 2023.
Rep. Idris emphasized that promotions are essential for the career progression and motivation of civil servants. He expressed concern over the frequent stagnation in promotions across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), highlighting its negative impact on service delivery, specialized skills, productivity, employee morale, and corruption.
“The issue of promotion stagnation in the civil service requires urgent attention and intervention from this chamber if the government’s policies and programs are to be effectively implemented,” he stated.
Idris pointed out that the civil service is crucial to the functioning of the government and called for comprehensive reforms to align with global best practices. He stressed the importance of timely promotions and recommendations for civil servants, noting that some who passed mandatory examinations were promoted only notionally without corresponding financial benefits.
He further explained that MDAs typically allocate funds for such recurrent expenditures in their annual budgets. Idris warned that any promotion stagnation could adversely affect an officer’s career, stating that civil servants are expected to reach the peak of their careers within 35 years of service or by the retirement age of 60.
In response, the House has directed the committee on public sector and institutional reforms to investigate the issue of promotion stagnation in the Federal Civil Service from 2013 to 2023.