FG scouts for replacement of retired perm secs

The federal government has begun the process of replacing 16 permanent secretaries who retired in some ministries.

This was made known by Winifred Oyo-Ita, head of the civil service of the federation (HoCSF) at the send-off ceremony for Saheed Adelakun, permanent secretary, common services office, office of the HoCSF.

Adelakun had retired after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60.

Oyo-Ita said some of the permanent secretaries who have reached the age of 60 or spent 35 years in service have started retiring.

She said others who are due to retire will follow suit before the end of the year.

“They have to retire in line with public service rule,” she said.

“Either they have spent 35 years in service or have reached the mandatory age of 60, whichever comes first. This 16 federal permanent secretaries, some of them have started retiring this year, other by the end of the year.

“Then there is the succession plan so the selection process of the permanent secretaries is ongoing.”

The head of service also urged workers to emulate Adelakun “who has had a very successful career ending on a glorious note.”

She noted the “success” of the federal integrated staff housing (FISH) scheme for federal workers “which has seen 36,000 key in under Adelakun’s watch as the chairman of the scheme.

Adelakun’s retirement brings the number of the retired permanent secretaries to four as Ayotunde Adesugba, the permanent secretary, federal ministry of information and culture, also retired Monday.

Rabi Jimeta, permanent secretary, ministry of water resources and Hajiya Jamila Shu’ara, who served in the federal ministries of education and petroleum resources, had retired in April.

Adelakun thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, the HoCSF and other staff of the ministry “for working together with him to succeed.”

He urged workers to be dedicated “so as to reap the benefits of hard work.”

A chartered accountant, Adelakun joined the federal civil service in 1982 as a higher executive officer before ex-President Goodluck Jonathan appointed him a permanent secretary in November 2013.