FG Requires Proof Of Approval For Study Leave From Workers

FG Requires Proof Of Approval For Study Leave From Workers

In response to concerns raised about the misuse of study leave privileges by civil servants, the Federal Government has mandated that all Federal Civil Servants on study leave must provide evidence of approval from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation…..READ ALSO Tinubu Government Holds Governors Accountable For State Police Delay As Only 16 Submit Reports To FG

This directive was issued by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, who emphasized the need for a new system to regularly verify employees within the service to confirm their actual whereabouts.

A memo containing this directive was circulated during the week to all permanent secretaries and shared with journalists in Abuja on Friday.

This move follows previous measures taken in August 2021 to address concerns about civil servants seeking study leave with admission letters from questionable foreign universities. In 2022, employees were required to sign bonds to prevent the misuse of study leave privileges.

Yemi-Esan highlighted the importance of physical verification alongside the new directive, stating, “As part of the efforts to sustain the gains of the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System, it has become imperative to emplace a mechanism for regular physical verification of officers in the service.”

The memo further instructed, “Officers who may be on study leave must show evidence of the approval of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to embark on such leave. This should be indicated in the remark column.”

Permanent secretaries were directed to conduct a physical verification exercise of all staff in their ministries to ascertain the location of each officer. The report of the exercise, signed by the permanent secretary, is to be submitted to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service by April 2, 2024.