The Federal Government has issued a directive requiring Federal Civil Servants currently on study leave to provide evidence of approval obtained from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation. This announcement coincides with the implementation of a new mechanism for routine verification of workers within the service to verify their actual location. The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, disclosed this information in a memo addressed to all permanent secretaries in Abuja.
The initiative stems from previous concerns raised by the Federal Government regarding civil servants applying for study leave with admission letters from suspicious foreign universities. In August 2021, the government highlighted this issue, prompting further measures to address the perceived abuse of study leave privileges by civil servants. One such measure implemented in 2022 involved requiring affected workers to sign bonds as a deterrent.
In light of these developments and the ongoing need for physical verification, Yemi-Esan outlined the necessity for regular verification exercises to uphold the integrity of the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS). Permanent secretaries were directed to conduct a thorough physical verification of all staff within their ministries to ascertain their actual whereabouts.
As part of this process, civil servants on study leave must furnish evidence of approval from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, which should be duly noted in the remark column. The results of the verification exercise, signed by the permanent secretary, are expected to be submitted to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service by April 2, 2024.
This directive underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability within the civil service while safeguarding against potential abuses of study leave privileges.
