FG Requires Workers on Study Leave to Provide Approval Evidence

The Federal Government has mandated Federal Civil Servants on study leave to provide evidence of approval obtained from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation. Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, disclosed this while highlighting the government’s initiative to implement routine verification of workers to determine their actual whereabouts. The directive was conveyed in a memo addressed to all permanent secretaries and released in Abuja on Friday.

This move comes in response to concerns raised by the Federal Government in August 2021 regarding civil servants obtaining admission letters from dubious foreign universities while applying for study leave. In 2022, the government further addressed this issue by requiring such workers to sign bonds to mitigate the perceived misuse of study leave privileges. Yemi-Esan emphasized the importance of physical verification alongside the new directive, aiming to sustain the gains of the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS).

As part of the government’s efforts to ensure accountability and transparency within the civil service, all ministries have been instructed to conduct a physical verification exercise for all staff members. During this process, officers on study leave must present evidence of approval from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. Permanent secretaries are tasked with overseeing the verification exercise and submitting a comprehensive report to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service by April 2, 2024.