*says appointment or tenure extension is at Governor’s discretion
From Joseph Adahnu, Yola
The Adamawa State Government, has defended its decision to retain some retired permanent secretaries in service, insisting that the move is legal and constitutional.
Head of Service, (HoS), Isa Ardo, who spoke to Journalists in Yola, explained that Governors, like the President, have the prerogative to engage retired officers on contract when their services are still required.
In his further defence, he said, it is his decision to retain some retired Permanent Secretaries in service, insisting that the move is legal, constitutional, and motivated by the need to address manpower gaps in the state civil service.
He dismissed claims by sections of the workforce that the practice was illegal or detrimental to career progression.
”Generally, Civil service has a window. If somebody retires and the government still needs his services, he can be given a contract appointment or tenure extension. This is at the discretion of the Governor, and there is nothing illegal about it. Even the federal government has done it in the past. It is not new,” Ardo explained.
He argued further that contract extensions do not affect promotions of serving officers, stressing that promotions are based on merit, qualifications, and available vacancies.
According to Head of Service, ”Somebody’s extension does not stop another person’s promotion. Extension is a temporary arrangement for specific roles, while promotions are guided by laid down criteria”.
He noted that the appointment of Permanent Secretaries, is subject to strict rules, including federal character principles, local government representation, and eligibility requirements. He disclosed that some aspirants fail to meet these standards, yet turn around to accuse government of bias.
Ardo explain that, despite the government’s defence, disquiet persists among civil servants who accuse the administration of bastardising the system by extending the tenure of officers who should have retired.
Some workers alleged that the practice fuels stagnation and demoralises younger officers waiting for promotion, a director on grade level 17 described the trend as a skewed anomaly that has become the new normal, warning that it could erode professionalism and discipline in the service.
Accordingly, Legal practitioners have also joined the debate with a Yola-based lawyer, Evarastus Odo, faulting the position of the HoS. He argued that neither the Constitution nor Civil service rules empower Governors to extend the tenure of retired officers.
Odo said, “Retirement age is a matter of law — 60 years of age or 35 years of service. To the best of my knowledge, no law has altered this. If Governors claim to have powers to extend tenure, they should show us the enabling law”.
This move, he warned undermine meritocracy, create stagnation, and weaken productivity in the Civil service.
The controversy has put Adamawa Government on the defensive, as it struggles to balance the need for experienced hands with the clamour for career progression and adherence to civil service rules.
