Abia govt retires Directors, Perm Secs with over 8 years in service

By Sam Obinna Ibe/ Umuahia.

Abia government has directed all the Directors and Permanent Secretaries who have put in more than eight years in the state civil service to proceed on compulsory retirement leave in the next three months beginning from Ist January 2024.

This directive was contained in a statement by Lady Joy Maduka, the Acting Abia Head of Service made available to our reporter on Wednesday in Umuahia.

According to her, the state government decided to reinstate the policy to reinvigorate the public service, restore the morale of officers and unlock the new Abia of hard working officers.

She further pointed out that Abia State Government has approved that Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Non- Ministerial Department shall hold office for a term of four (4) years, renewable for another term of four (4) years, subject to satisfactory performance, and no more.

In the same vein, she said that Directors shall compulsorily retire upon serving eight (8) years in the post.

“This approval is without prejudice to Rule 02809 of the Abia state Public Service Rules which prescribes Sixty (60) years of age or thirty-five(35) years of pensionable service, whichever is earlier for mandatory retirement.

“Consequently, all Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Non- Ministerial Departments and Directors who would have spent eight years or more on the post by 1st January 2024, are hereby notified to commence their retirement activities.

According to the release, “this circular takes immediate effect and supersedes all other previous circulars on the matter.”

Former Governor of Abia T A Orji was the first to introduce policy during his during his administration ( 2007-2015).

He said the policy was geared towards encouragement of upward progression in the Abia Public Service.

Dr Alex Otti had in June 2023 after assuming office suspended all the Permanent Secretaries in the State civil service except the Permanent Secretary/ Solicitor General, Barr Mrs Uzomaaka Ikonne, wife of the late PDP 2023 Governorship candidate, Professor Uche Ikonne and the Permanent Secretary/ Clerk of the House of Assembly, John Pedro Irokansi.

Otti had prior to their suspension called for a meeting with the former Head of Service, Onyii Wamah and Permanent Secretaries at Micheal Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia.

The permanent secretaries had expressed commitment to serve the new administration, only to receive the shock of their lives through the unexpected suspension.

Since then, there have been speculations if they will ever be recalled to their duty post. While some Abians applauded this move, supporters of the sacked PDP government queried the rationale behind what they described as draconian, urging for reversal of the suspension.

But with this latest directive, most of them are likely to proceed on retirement.