Head Of Service Bans Civil Servants From Accepting Chieftaincy Titles...

As part of the federal government’s plan to reform the Federal Civil Service (FCS), the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoSF), Alhaji Bukar Goni-Aji, has banned civil servants from accepting chieftaincy titles and other sundry awards until after their retirement or disengagement from the civil service.

In a circular  Tuesday to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Goni-Aji warned civil servants from soliciting and accepting titles, which he said, were against the principles of anonymity and political neutrality in civil service.

“It has come to the notice of government that some civil servants are in the practice of soliciting for chieftaincy titles and sundry awards, an act, which he said, is inimical to the principles of anonymity, integrity and political neutrality which are the core values of the civil service,” he said.

The HoSF, however, directed that where a civil servant must hold a traditional title bestowed on him on her by inheritance or receive any award, due clearance should be obtained from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), through the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).

The HoSF had recently warned civil servants to adhere strictly to the provisions of the law, which kicked against public officers from engaging in private practice.

Goni-Aji in the circular titled: “Code of Conduct for Public Officers”, to all MDAs of the federal government, emphasised on the need to obey the civil rules.

He warned those, who were in the habit of abandoning their civil service duties to engage in private jobs to desist from such action, reminding them the observation made at the 37th meeting of the National Council on Establishments (NCE).