BY  ANAYO OKOLI

Umuahia – ABIA State Government has pegged  the tenure of permanent secretaries, directors and heads of non-ministerial departments to a maximum of eight years effective December 1, 2011.

The government said the new policy was adopted to “reinvigorate the service, restore morale of officers and unlock the creative potentials of hardworking officers.”

Head of Service, Mr. Godson Adiele, in a circular, HAS/S.0074/II/91, dated August 1, said the new policy was in consonance with a Federal Circular No. HCSF/061/S.III/68 of August 26, 2009.

He said: “Accordingly, government has approved that permanent secretaries and heads of non-ministerial departments shall hold office for a term of four years, renewable for a further term of four years, subject to satisfactory performance and no more.  Directors should compulsorily retire upon serving eight years on the post.

“This approval is without prejudice to the relevant provisions of the Public Service Rules which prescribe 60 years of age and/or 35 years of service for mandatory retirement.

“Consequently, all permanent secretaries, heads of non-ministerial departments and directors who would have spent eight years or more on the post by December 1, 2011, effective date of this provision, are hereby notified for the purpose of commencing their pre-retirement activities, when due. This is to obviate any form of delay in receiving their retirement benefits.”