Confusion over alleged removal of Kifasi as Head of Service

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has allegedly removed Danladi Kifasi as the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, to entrench the federal character principle as enshrined in the Nigeria’s constitution.

danladi kifasi

Unconfirmed sources said the letter authorising Kifasi’s removal emanated from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir David Lawal.

He was allegedly asked to proceed on his terminal leave with immediate effect.

Kifasi, who hails from Taraba, is from the same North-East zone as the SGF who hails from Adamawa State.

The outgoing Head of Service was appointed by former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan

He had served as permanent secretary in several ministries, including Federal Ministry of Finance and Petroleum and was said to have prepared for smooth handover in an event of the announcement of new Head of Service, who may likely be from the southern part of the country.

Kifasi, who was then a permanent secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, took over from Bukar Goni Aji, who had retired from the service, having attained the mandatory age of 60.

When contacted, however, neither the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation nor that of HOS Office could confirm the alleged removal.

Director, Communications, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Mr Haruna Imrana, told the Nigerian Tribune that no official letter got to the Head of Service on the alleged removal from either the Presidency or the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

He said he was surprised to read online that Kifasi had been removed, stressing that there was no letter from any source to that effect as of Tuesday night.

He, however, said he would contact the SGF Office, to further verify the information, which was reported emanated from David Lawal.

It could not, however, be established as of press time if the Head of Service was due for his mandatory retirement from the Service. Imrana could not also confirm this.

Meanwhile, indications to the removal of Kifasi emerged early on Tuesday, when the continuation of his unscheduled visit to ministries was abruptly postponed on the heels of his invitation to Aso Rock Villa by President Buhari.

Some select journalists were invited to cover a proposed unscheduled visit by Kifasi to one of the ministries before the sudden announcement that he was summoned to the Villa.

Kifasi had paid a similar unscheduled visit at 8.00 a.m. to the ministries of Power and Aviation on Thursday, in a bid to assess worker’s compliance to work ethics.

At the Ministry of Power, the HOS met the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Godknows Igali, busy at his desk. The surprised permanent secretary summoned all the directors in the ministry and welcomed him.

In his address, Ambassador Igali said the ministry was working hard on its responsibility to supply power to the country.

At the Ministry of Aviation, Kifasi met the Permanent Secretary, Hajia Binta Bello and her directors on seat.

At both ministries, Kifasi stressed the need for civil servants to be ICT compliant, uphold work ethics and to be conversant with the zero-based budgeting system to ensure transparency.

Confusion over alleged removal of Kifasi as Head of Service