The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, has raised concerns about the exodus of skilled professionals from the civil service due to inadequate compensation, urging for a revamp of the pay structure.
During a visit to the Chairman and Chief Executive of National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta, in Abuja, Olaopa underscored that the current policy of hiring a thousand mediocre individuals for tasks that could be efficiently handled by 150 experts, along with the poor compensation package, has deterred competent professionals from seeking employment in the civil service.
He emphasized the need for a comprehensive regrading, job evaluation, and an overhaul of the entire compensation system to address the prevailing challenges.
Olaopa pointed out the breakdown of competency-based human-resources management and emphasized the necessity of clear policy and guidelines in the creation and winding-up of institutions to curb the indiscriminate expansion of the workforce, particularly through large-scale recruitment and subsequent absorption into the civil service.
Additionally, he advocated for a decentralized minimum wage system, allowing states to determine minimum wages according to their respective financial capacities.
Furthermore, Olaopa highlighted the importance of non-monetary benefits in addition to competitive wages and stressed the need for a coherent policy to guide the entire management of the pay administration system. He also called for decentralization within fiscal federalism, enabling states to align salary payments with their financial capabilities.
Addressing the recruitment process in the civil service, Nta expressed concern that the current system does not prioritize competence, leading to an overstaffed workforce. In light of the COVID-19 experience, he noted that a lean workforce comprising grade level 13-17 officers effectively managed the service during a period when grade level 12 and below employees were unable to work, emphasizing the cost-effectiveness of a lean and competent workforce.
Furthermore, Nta recommended the digitization of recruitment, promotion, and discipline operations within the Federal Civil Service Commission to enhance efficiency and transparency.
Both Olaopa and Nta emphasized the need for a systematic and market-sensitive approach to cost of living adjustments for salaries and pay, underlining the importance of aligning wages with prevailing market variables and the cost of living.
