Commission Urges Dismissal, Trial Of Public Servants With Falsified Birth Records
The Imo State Civil Service Commission has urged the National Council of Civil Service Commissions to implement a strict and enforceable rule against any public servant found to have forged or presented multiple birth certificates during their career progression in the Federal, State, or Local Government civil service.
The call was made in a memorandum from the Imo State Civil Service Commission during the 44th National Council and Annual Conference of Civil Service Commissions, with the theme “Repositioning Civil Service Commissions in Nigeria as a Hub of Professionalism in Public Service Human Resource Management,” which was held in Umuahia, Abia State, on Tuesday.
Presenting the memorandum on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary of the Imo State Civil Service Commission, Mr Evans Iroanya, said the civil service has long been plagued by the fabrication and manipulation of dates of birth.
He argued that introducing a rule to address this issue would help prevent overstays in the service, open up vacancies, and create employment opportunities for youths through proper retirements.
He emphasised, “The proclamation will instil discipline in keeping in public service of the Federation/state and curb stagnation of juniors from progressing in their chosen career when due.
“Certificates issued by the National Population Commission or General hospitals should be recognised for the purpose of recruiting officers into the service.
“We urge the governments at various levels of public service to make a proclamation that any public servant found to have manipulated or falsified dates of birth shall be dismissed and further prosecuted in any Court of Competent Jurisdiction within the federation.
“We urge the federal and state governments to initiate necessary steps and carry out the proclamation, on the need for honesty and sincerity in record keeping and state the institutions that should issue a recognisable Birth Certificate for recruitment into the Service”
Responding, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Mr Phillip Ebiogeh, said that certificates of age declaration remain valid in the service because most hospitals have not fully digitalised their records.
He noted that unforeseen events, such as fires or floods, could destroy original documents, making age declaration certificates necessary.