Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, the ADC governorship candidate in Sokoto State, has called on the state government to urgently review its policy on post-retirement appointments and extensions for retired civil servants, warning that the current practice is undermining the efficiency and integrity of the public service. In a statement released on Wednesday by his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, Dan’iya highlighted serious concerns about the retention of retired officials beyond their statutory retirement age, arguing that such actions are weakening institutional capacity and blocking career advancement for younger, qualified workers.
He pointed out that the issue affects multiple levels of the civil service, including primary and secondary school teachers, headmasters, principals, and even Permanent Secretaries. According to Dan’iya, many retired officers are being allowed to remain in their former positions without clear contractual terms, rather than being engaged on specific, time-bound assignments. This, he argued, violates principles of professionalism, succession planning, and institutional memory that are essential for a functional civil service.
“The civil service survives on rules, professionalism, succession and institutional memory,” Dan’iya stated. “Once those principles are deliberately weakened, the institution itself begins to collapse.” He further accused the government of appointing individuals without relevant professional qualifications to sensitive roles, citing instances where teachers were deployed as finance officers while trained financial experts were sidelined.
Reports from civil servants at the Shehu Kangiwa and Usman Faruk Secretariats also revealed that some workers had little or no meaningful duties, with others reportedly coming to work only a few days a week. Dan’iya warned that this inefficiency could severely impact the delivery of essential services in key sectors such as education, healthcare, water supply, infrastructure, agriculture, and security.
“Government exists to serve the people, and the civil service is the machinery through which that service is delivered,” he emphasized. He urged the state government to reform its approach to post-retirement engagements, recommending that retired officials whose expertise is still needed be hired under clearly defined contracts rather than indefinite extensions.
Dan’iya also outlined his vision for the civil service if elected, promising merit-based appointments, transparent promotions, and proper deployment based on qualifications and competence. “The Sokoto civil service must not be allowed to die quietly,” he declared. “It is the machinery of government, and when that machinery stops working, the entire state suffers.”
His call for reform underscores growing concerns about governance and accountability in public institutions across Nigeria, particularly in states where civil service efficiency is critical to development. As the 2023 election approaches, Dan’iya’s stance positions him as a strong advocate for institutional renewal and youth inclusion in public service.
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