The Abia State government has announced that administrative staff in the civil and public service without professional certificates will not be promoted beyond Level 13. This directive was stated by the Abia State Head of Service, Mrs. Ngozi Queen Obioma, during a meeting in Umuahia with the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, Administrative Officers, and Executive (General Duties) staff.
This policy is in line with Circular No. HCSF/SPSO/ODD/CND/100/S.I/195 from the Head of Service of the Federation, dated March 21, 2024, which has now been adopted by Abia State.
Mrs. Obioma clarified that from 2025, administrative officers and Executive (General Duties) on grade levels 10-13 without professional certificates will no longer be promoted beyond Level 13 in the civil/public service. Represented by Mr. Kingsley Ibelegbu, Director of the Bureau of Administration and Career Management, she encouraged staff without professional certificates to take advantage of opportunities to enhance their careers through professional development.
During a training session for civil servants, Mrs. Ogochukwu Egbuonu, National Treasurer of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), emphasized the importance of professional certification for career advancement. She commended Governor Alex Otti’s efforts to elevate the status of Abia workers and urged them to uphold integrity, excellence, competence, and honesty as per the Abia public service anthem.
Mr. Olutayo Olawale, Director of Membership and Marketing Development at CIPM, described the institute as the top regulatory body for human resource management in Nigeria. He encouraged civil servants to join the institute to better serve the public.
Some civil servants expressed their interest in upgrading their qualifications to include professional certificates to avoid early retirement. They also requested that the state government subsidize the fees for obtaining these certificates.