The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recently announced the promotion of 5,196 of its dedicated staff members across the nation. This significant development was disclosed in a recent bulletin shared with journalists on Thursday.
A detailed breakdown reveals that 55 Deputy Directors on Grade Level 16 have ascended to the esteemed rank of Directors on Grade Level 17. Additionally, 54 Assistant Directors on GL 15 have been promoted to the Deputy Director Cadre on GL 16.
Furthermore, 338 officers on GL 14 have been elevated to Assistant Directors on GL 15, while the majority of promotions, affecting 4,749 officers, spanned across GL 7 to 13.
Simultaneously, the commission issued a directive for four directors to proceed on terminal leave, a decision prompted by a Federal Government circular issued on July 27, 2023. This directive mandates directors with eight years or more of service to retire from the public sector.
Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, revealed in a statement on Wednesday that two directors who took terminal leave had served as Heads of Departments at the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja. The other two were deployed as Administrative Secretaries in the State Offices.
It’s worth noting that Clinical Officers in the Medical cadre have been exempted from the Federal Government Retirement Policy, as clarified in Circular MH 7205/T31 dated September 7, 2023. This exemption underscores the nuanced nature of the recent developments within INEC, highlighting both strides in staff recognition and adherence to governmental directives.