BY EMMA OVUAKPORIE
In line with provisions of the tenure policy for permanent secretaries which commenced in January 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the reappointment of five permanent secretaries who have completed their first 4-year term in office.

The second term is for a maximum period of four years but terminates whenever each of them is due to retire after either attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60 years or 35 years in service.

The five reappointed permanent secretaries include Alhaji Seidu Ozigis, Ministry of Interior; Alhaji Isa Bello Sali, Ministry of Power; Prof Simon Ogamdi, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Elizabeth Emuren, Ministry of Mines and Steel; and Prof Nicholas Damachi, Ministry of Education

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Professor Oladapo Afolabi, who announced the reappointment, said the President’s approval was based on the positive assessment of their performance as permanent secretaries in the last four years.

The evaluation and assessment process, he said, commenced in November 2010 and was concluded on Thursday, February 3, 2011, when each of the five permanent secretaries had an interactive session with a committee made up of former Heads of the Civil Service of the Federation with the incumbent Head of Service as Chairman.

Former Heads of Service, who served on the committee, include Alhaji Gidado Idris, Dr. Abu Obe, Engineer Ebele Okeke and Mr. Stephen Oronsaye.

It would be recalled that from January 2010, a new Tenure Policy commenced in the Federal Civil Service, which prescribe 8-year tenure for directors and a 2-term of 4 years tenure for permanent secretaries with the second term, only renewable after being adjudged to have performed satisfactorily during the first 4-year term.

The reappointment of the five permanent secretaries is the first to occur under the new policy.

The policy, which was received with mixed feelings by civil servants, was seen in many quarters as a good omen as previous permanent secretaries and directors occupy such positions and stay till they retired staying over 13 to 15 years.

The former HOS, Stephen Oronsaye, had stamped his effect to ensure the policy was stuck to as the late President Umaru Yar’Adua gave him the backing to succeed