Kogi State Government has dismissed one thousand, seven hundred and seventy four civil servants and eight permanent secretaries in the State.
The News Agency of Nigeria gathered in Lokoja that the affected members of staff were served their letters last December.
The letters were signed by the state’s Head of Service, Mrs. Deborah Ogunmola, and the Chairman of the state Civil Service Commission, Mr. Ado Shaibu.
The retirement, according to the letters were made “in the interest of the public” and affected only permanent secretaries that have served above four years in office.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mrs. Petra Akinti-Onyegbule, defended the action, saying it was a part of the ongoing reforms in the civil service.
She added that they affected staff have been paid their benefits accrued to the state coffers.
She said “The retired permanent secretaries have been paid their consolidated benefits that accrued to them.
“Also affected are civil servants who have attained the special salary grade level 17,” she added.
She further explained that some Directors who have spent eight years and above will also be affected by the reform but she did not give the exact number of the Directors.
In order to get the best replacement for the retired permanent secretaries, directors who have been in office for eight years but who have yet to attain retirement age or maximum number of years in office were given the opportunity to partake in the exams to fill the positions of permanent secretaries.
“The result of the examinations which held on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 and followed by interviews is not yet out.
“Until the result is out, we will not be able to put a definite figure on the number of directors that will be affected by the compulsory retirement,’’ she said
Akinti-Onyegbule also stated that 1,667 others with fake results have been dismissed from civil service while another 107 were sacked for engaging in fraudulent activities.
