Federal Government Tightens Oversight on Civil Servants’ Study Leave

In a move aimed at enhancing accountability and curtailing potential abuses, the Federal Government has issued a directive demanding that civil servants on study leave provide evidence of approval obtained from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

This directive, communicated by the Head of Civil Service, Folashade Yemi-Esan, underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring transparency and adherence to regulations within the civil service.

The issuance of this directive follows concerns raised by the Federal Government regarding instances of civil servants obtaining study leave approvals from dubious foreign universities. In August 2021, the government expressed alarm over such practices, prompting heightened scrutiny of study leave applications.

To address these concerns, the government previously ordered civil servants on study leave to sign bonds, aiming to deter potential abuses of the study leave system. Now, with the latest directive, civil servants are required to furnish evidence of study leave approval from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation as part of routine verification procedures.

In addition to the study leave scrutiny, Yemi-Esan emphasized the implementation of physical verification exercises for all civil servants to ascertain their true location. This move aligns with the government’s ongoing efforts to maintain the integrity of the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS) and ensure accurate personnel data.

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Under the directive, permanent secretaries are tasked with conducting physical verification exercises within their respective ministries and submitting reports detailing the location of each officer. Officers on study leave are specifically instructed to indicate approval from the Office of the Head of Civil Service in the remarks column of the verification report.

The deadline for submitting the verification report to the Office of the Head of Civil Service is set for April 2, 2024, underscoring the urgency and importance of compliance with the directive.

As the Federal Government intensifies oversight measures within the civil service, this directive serves as a proactive step towards promoting accountability, transparency, and adherence to established protocols among civil servants on study leave.