Trouble In Federal Civil Service Over Extension Of Education Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Jamila Shu’ara’s Tenure As She Shuns Probe Panel

A crisis is looming in the federal civil service over the extension of the tenure of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Jamila Shu’ara, by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The President of the Trade Union Congress, Mr. Bala Kaigama, said on Friday that the group had written a letter to the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to protest the extension of the Permanent Secretary’s tenure.

He said the letter was sent to the Acting President on March 2, 2017 (Thursday), adding that affiliate unions of the TUC would occupy the ministry if Shu’ara failed to leave.
The House of Representatives’ Committee on Basic Education, had on Wednesday, summoned the Head of Service of the Federation, Ms. Winifred Oyo-Ita, to explain why Shu’ara was still in service.

Shu’ara, who is said to be 61 years old, is still in service in breach of civil service rules.

Under the existing provisions, an officer retires from service after serving for 35 years or attaining the age of 60 years, whichever comes first.

According to reports on Thursday, during her first meeting with the House committee, which is chaired by an All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Kwara State, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, the permanent secretary had claimed that her service was extended by the Presidency.

However, the committee later discovered that the alleged extension of service, which was for one year, had expired on February 17.

The committee had directed her to appear on Wednesday with proof of the presidential extension, but Shu’ara failed to show up.

She was scheduled to appear alongside the Minister of Education, Mr. Adamu Adamu, and Oyo-Ita, but none of the officials honoured the invitation.

The committee members later reviewed the absence of the officials and summoned Oyo-Ita and Shu’ara to appear without fail on March 9

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