BARELY 24 hours to the inauguration of his first cabinet, President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered mass retirement of permanent secretaries. Not less than 17 of the permanent secretaries are affected in the exercise.
Presidency sources confirmed that the move was part of an effort to overhaul the service which is geared towards strengthening the Federal Civil Service.
Most of the permanent secretaries including the acting Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita met yesterday with President Buhari at the presidential villa.
The meeting was held behind closed-door. But most of the affected permanent secretaries wore long faces when they were coming out of the meeting with the President.
The presidency source said the President informed the permanent secretaries that they would be retired during the meeting.
The source said that those affected included those who were senior to Oyo-Ita. who was recently appointed, was said to have wept at the meeting for her seniors who are affected by the new development.
