Other resolutions contained in the 19–point communiqué read presented by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Bello Sali, include the need to reduce the engagement of consultants by the Federal and State Governments who are hired to perform regular functions of civil servants.

The Council also resolved that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation should issue a circular to emphasis the provision of the 5th schedule of the 1999 Constitution as relates to private practice by public officers. This was in response to a memo that sought to abrogate the supposed permission granted to medical practitioners in the public service to engage in private practice.

It also accepted the recommendation for the establishment of crèches in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Federal and State Governments in order to enhance the working conditions and productivity of breastfeeding female civil servants.

Other decisions taken by the Council are as follows:

1. Noted the request for the Creation of Environmental Protection Officer Cadre structured on SGL. 06 – 14 and referred same to Management Services Office (MSO) of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for further study;
2. Agreed to refer the issue of the creation of the Schemes of Service for the Cartographer Cadre in the Public Service of the Federation to the MSO;
3. Agreed to refer the request for the inclusion of Air Traffic Controllers Cadre in the Schemes of Service to MSO for further study;
4. Approved that further study be carried out on the issue of Schemes of Service for Medical Laboratory Scientists involved in teaching;
5. Set up a Committee on the observed inadequacies in management of contributions to the National Housing Fund with membership comprising the following Heads of Service: Anambra as Chairman and Akwa Ibom; Plateau, Jigawa, Ondo and Bauchi as members:
6. Rejected the request to extend the payment of uniform allowance to workers that wear uniforms in the Medical, Health, Agricultural, Environmental and Social Sectors of the Public Service;
7. Accepted the recommendation for the establishment of Crèches in MDAs in order to enhance the working conditions and productivity of breastfeeding female Civil Servants;
8. In view of the incessant demands for the review of allowances in the Service, Council upheld its earlier decision not to extend occupational hazard allowance to other agricultural professionals in the sector;
9. Rejected the request for the payment of civil servants rent allowance en-bloc once a year in order to reduce further financial burdens on Government;
10. Approved the inclusion in the Schemes of Service the certificate/professional qualifications of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria for proficiency only;
11. Noted the request for an increase of employers contribution under the contributory pension scheme from 7.5% to 15% and the payment of gratuity under the scheme and directed the Standing Committee to link up with the relevant National Assembly Committee on the subject;
12. Accepted the request for the inclusion of the Firemen/Officers in the list of officers who enjoy hazard and shift duty allowances in the Public Service and advised States to consider same within their peculiarities;
13. Rejected the request by the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) Zaria for appropriate placement of its certificate holders and for improvement of its Conditions of Service;
14. Set up a review Committee of Heads of Service whose memberships comprised Osun as Chairman and Adamawa, Kano, Enugu, Rivers and Niger Heads of Service as members to examine the Reports of the earlier Committees on the Review of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Review of the Schemes of Service;.

The National Council on Establishments is a consultative and advisory body to the Federal and Government on establishment matters, job standards, structure, conditions and schemes of service.

Membership of the Council consists of all Head of the Civil Service from the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation as Chairman.

SIGNED

Tope Ajakaiye

Director (Press & Public Relations)

For: Head of the Civil Service of the Federation

18th March, 2013.