The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate promotion stagnation in the Federal Civil Service between 2013 and 2023.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion moved by Rep. Salman Idris, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, during plenary in Abuja.
Mr. Idris described promotion as a critical tool for career progression and motivation among civil servants. He expressed concern that persistent delays in promotions across ministries, departments, and agencies had resulted in poor service delivery, erosion of specialised skills, low productivity, employee unrest, corruption, and declining morale.
“The menace of promotion stagnation in the civil service calls for urgent attention and intervention of this hallowed chamber, if the policies and programmes of government must be achieved,” Mr. Idris said.
He added that the civil service, as the engine room of government, required holistic reforms to align with global best practices.
Mr. Idris further noted that some civil servants who eventually passed mandatory promotion examinations were promoted in title but not in remuneration. He explained that although ministries usually made provisions for such expenditures in their annual budgets, delays continued to undermine officers’ career progression.
“Every civil servant is expected to rise to the pinnacle of their career within 35 years of active service or by the retirement age of 60 years,” he said.
Following the motion, the House directed the Committee on Public Sector and Institutional Reforms to investigate the issue of promotion stagnation and report back within four weeks. The House said the objective was to strengthen the Federal Civil Service at this critical stage of Nigeria’s development.
