During the work of the Transition Committee, one of the issues tabled for discussion was item 3 of the ‘Resolution as Agreed by the FIRS Management and the Joint Union Council dated July 25, 2007.’ (See attached).
2. The Management of FIRS and the Joint Union Council in the
Resolution agreed that:
2.1 Item 3 referred to above states inter alia, ‘That the Placement Assessment will be used to retrain those who fall short of the established standard through the exercise and such staff will be given a period of FOUR (4) YEARS to improve and come within the required standards….’. This (Grace Period) will expire July 25, 2011.
2.2 The minimum educational qualification established for those transiting to the New FIRS is HND/Bachelors degrees relevant to FIRS business.
3 Following Union entreaties to FIRS Management, it was further agreed as follows:
3.1 That the Grace Period be further extended by two years and five months i.e. From July 25, 2011 to December 31, 2013.
3.2 Any staff that is pursuing a programme which will enable him/her to obtain HND/Bachelors degree (as specified in FIRS Scheme of Service) by December 31, 2013 shall be allowed to transit to the new FIRS.
3.3 Any Staff who does not meet the minimum educational qualification stated in (2.2) above shall be released from the Service by December 31, 2013 or as may be determined under the FIRS Terms and Conditions of Service without further recourse.
3.4 That the FIRS Management agreed to this extension in order to provide affected staff the opportunity of meeting the minimum educational qualification to transit to the New FIRS provided such staff operate within the FIRS Terms and Conditions of Service
3.5 Staff who obtained degree courses without the relevant Management approval are hereby granted reprieve and the relevant qualification so obtained recognized. Going forward however, anyone who, in future, pursues or intends to pursue further studies MUST obtain Management’s approval and in addition, satisfy other conditions to be determined by Management before any such qualification arising from such further studies can be recognized.
3.6 Staff with higher qualifications obtained with the prior approval or knowledge of Management while in service shall be offered positions commensurate with their qualification.
3.7 Staff who had higher qualifications but could not use them and took lower positions due to lack of job opportunities at the time of their entry into the Service, the following shall apply:
- Staff who responded to the FIRS advert and were successful for positions higher than Officer II would be given what they applied for.
- Staff who responded to the FIRS advert for the position of Officer II and were successful will be given SL 10/step 3
- Staff who responded to the FIRS advert but were not successful will be given amnesty to the position of Officer II on SL 10/1 provided such officers shall not come back later to ask for placement on a higher level on the basis that they graduated earlier than their colleagues.
4 The following categories of staff/qualification are however not covered by this Resolution:
4.1 Those pursuing degrees or other qualifications while in
Service without evidence of formal application to or and
approval by Management
4.2 Staff who do not possess the requisite minimum qualification for employment in the Service and who cannot show valid evidence on or before December 31st 2010 that they possess the credentials and documentation for admission to further education toward meeting by December 31st 2013, the minimum requirement for employment in the Service.
4.3 Staff who cannot successfully complete their programme of study by December 31st 2013.
4.4 Staff who had attained the age of Fifty Five (55) and above or had spent a minimum of Thirty (30) years in Service without the requisite qualification shall not be covered by this arrangement.
4.5 Staff who contravene the rules and regulations of the Service shall face appropriate sanction notwithstanding the provisions of this Resolution.
4.6 Staff who are not attending accredited Institutions and/or pursuing accredited courses of study.
5 The Joint Union Council is pleased with the extension of the Grace Period to December 31, 2013 to give staff time to meet the minimum educational qualification only.
6 This Resolution is without prejudice to compliance with the
Public Service Rules and the FIRS (Establishment) Act, 2007
within which the FIRS Management and the Joint Union
Council will as always work together to ensure compliance in
the best interest of Staff, the Service and our country Nigeria.
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Coordinating Director Ag. Head
Support Services Group Human Capital Mgt.
For & on Behalf
Of Management
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Chairman Chairman
Association of Senior Nigeria Civil
Civil Servants of Nigeria Service Union
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Chairman In the Presence of
Nigeria Union of Civil Ag. Head
Service Secretarial & Legal & Prosecution Stenographic Workers Witness