By Our Reporter
The House of Representatives has decided to investigate promotion stagnation in the Federal Civil Service from 2013 to 2023 to foster a more effective and efficient civil service.
Additionally, the House urged President Bola Tinubu to promptly establish the National Council on Public Procurement in line with the Public Procurement Act’s provisions.
These decisions followed two separate motions by Hon. Salman Idris (ADC, Kogi) and Murphy Osaro Omoruyi (APC, Edo), which the House adopted unanimously without debate during Tuesday’s plenary.
Leading the debate for his motion, Hon. Idris cited Section 169 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which provides for the establishment of the Civil Service of the Federation, and Section 170, which establishes the Federal Civil Service Commission.
Idris emphasized that the Civil Service, headed by the Head of Service of the Federation, is crucial for managing leadership and capacity development, acting as the administrative engine for implementing federal government policies and programs.
According to Idris, promotions are vital for civil servants’ career progression, serving as a motivational incentive for productivity and performance. He noted that over the years, promotion stagnation across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies has led to a decline in service delivery, specialized skills, productivity, and morale, as well as employee unrest and corruption.
Idris stressed the need for comprehensive reforms in the Civil Service to prioritize timely and fair promotions and remuneration, aligning with global best practices. He argued that addressing promotion stagnation is urgent for achieving government policies and programs.
The House also extended the implementation of the 2023 capital budget and supplementary budget to December.
Concerned that some civil servants who pass mandatory examinations receive only nominal promotions without financial benefits despite adequate recurrent expenditure allocations in the annual budget for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, Idris maintained that promotion stagnation hampers civil servants’ careers. Every civil servant is expected to reach their career peak within 35 years of active service or by the retirement age of 60.
Hon. Omoruyi highlighted that the Public Procurement Act was enacted to ensure transparency, accountability, and efficiency in government procurement processes. He pointed out that Section 1 of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 mandates the establishment of the National Council on Public Procurement, which is crucial for overseeing, regulating, and standardizing procurement practices across government agencies.
Omoruyi noted that the council’s composition includes representatives from various interest groups to ensure inclusive stakeholder participation in national development. He expressed concern that the absence of the National Council on Public Procurement undermines the Act’s objectives and hampers procurement processes.
He criticized previous administrations under Umaru Yar Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari for not inaugurating the council as prescribed by the Act, allowing the Federal Executive Council to usurp its functions. Omoruyi emphasized the need to constitute the National Council on Public Procurement per the 2007 Act to ensure transparency, accountability, and efficiency in government procurement.