Posted on: Sat 29-01-2022

The 43rd meeting of the National Council on Establishments (NCE) was held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, from Monday, 24th to Friday, 28th of January, 2022. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and Chairman of Council, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan presided over the meeting; attended by Heads of Service from 34 States and the FCT.  

The meeting was declared open by the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello. In the keynote address by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, she informed members that the revised Public Service Rules (PSR 2021) and Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021 —2025 (FCSSIP25) had been approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). She noted that FCSSIP25 was aimed at, amongst others, consolidating the gains recorded in the previous Plan and to respond to emerging challenges in the Service with a view to making the Service professional, meritocratic, technologically driven and world class for accelerated national development.  

At the meeting, were 423 delegates from the States including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and the Para-Military. Also in attendance were the Chairman, Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters, Members of the House Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters of the National Assembly, Chairmen of Federal Civil Service Commission and National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Federal Permanent Secretaries, Auditor-General for the Federation, amongst others.

The Plenary Session of Council was preceded by a two (2) day Technical Session of Officials' meeting comprising Permanent Secretaries and Directors in charge of Establishment Matters from Federal and State Governments, under the chairmanship of the Permanent Secretary (Service Policies and Strategies Office) OHCSF, Dr. Emmanuel C. Meribole. The Officials evaluated a total of twenty-four (24) Memoranda on various establishment matters.  

Council considered the report of the Officials on the Memoranda and amongst other issues:  

i. approved the creation of:  

• a) the Dental Therapy Officer Cadre structured on SGL 08-17;  
• b) Occupational Safety Officer Cadres structured on SGL 08-17; and  
• c) Executive Officer (Occupational Safety) Cadre, structured on SGL 06 — 14;  

ii. approved the review of the entry grade level of graduate Nurses from SGL.09 (CONHESS 08) to SGLIO (CONHESS 09);  

iii. approved the change of nomenclature of Dental Officer (Technology) Cadre to Dental Technology Officer Cadre (SGL 08- 17);  

iv. approved the removal of Optometry Assistant Cadre, deemed to be obsolete from the Schemes of Service;

v. rejected the request for the extension of Advancement from the entry point to the next grade level to all graduate Officers without passing through promotion procedures; and  

vi. expressed dissatisfaction with the manner extant establishment Rules and Circulars are flouted and advised the OHCSF to transmit a memorandum on contravention of administrative procedures by Chief Executives in the Civil/Public Service lo the federal Executive Council (FEC).  

Council rejected some other requests, reverted some to the sponsoring Ministries for more information and referred some others to the Standing Committee on Schemes of Service for detailed examination.  

Council reiterated that issues relating to approval of Internship is outside its purview, while cases of disparity in the training duration of same courses in different universities and proliferation of courses in same discipline should be referred to the National Universities Commission for review.  

Council considered the need to hold its meetings twice a year, one of which could be virtual.  

Council agreed that the 44th NCE Meeting will hold in the last quarter of 2022 in a State to be determined after consultations by the States Heads of Service with their respective Governors.  

Council appreciated the Honourable Minister, Permanent Secretary, Management and Staff of the FCT; and the Local Organising Committee for the excellent hospitality extended to the delegates and the facilities deployed to ensure the success of the 43rd Meeting of the Council.  

Dr. Folasade Yemi-Elan, Chairman of Council , Head of the Civil Service of the Federation

Dr. Emmanuel C. Meribole, Secretary of Council, Permanent Secretary (SPSO), OHCSF  

Issued in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory on Friday 28th January, 2022. 

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