A section of civil servants in Rivers State has issued a seven-day ultimatum to retired permanent secretaries still occupying public offices, warning that they will embark on a protest if the affected officials fail to vacate their positions within the stipulated period.
The workers alleged that some permanent secretaries who retired from the state civil service in 2024 have continued to remain in office despite the expiration of the one-year contract appointments granted to them by the state government.
The development, they said, is contrary to existing public service regulations and is hindering career progression for senior directors who are qualified for appointment as permanent secretaries.
Investigations revealed that despite a directive issued by the Rivers State Civil Service Commission (RSCSC) to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) on the enforcement of retirement rules, some of the affected permanent secretaries have allegedly refused to hand over and proceed on retirement.
In a memo dated April 27, 2026, and signed by the chairman of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission, Dr. Livinus Barikor, the Commission directed all retired permanent secretaries affected by the governor’s directive to comply with retirement regulations and complete their handover processes.
Copies of the memo were sent to the Secretary to the State Government, the Head of Service, the chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), and the registrar of the Rivers State Judiciary, among other key government officials.
The memo, titled:“Enforcement of Retirement Rules and Handover Procedures,” stated,
“It has come to the attention of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission that some permanent secretaries and other categories of civil servants who have attained the mandatory retirement age or completed the required years of service are yet to comply fully with existing retirement regulations.
“In line with the Public Service Rules, all civil servants who are officially retired and are not on approved contract appointments are hereby directed to hand over all official responsibilities, documents and government property in their custody to the most senior director in their department or unit immediately.
“Also, they should proceed on retirement without delay after completing the handover process.”
Speaking with LEADERSHIP on condition of anonymity, one of the concerned civil servants said workers had resolved to resort to protest if the affected officials continued to ignore the directives of the state government and the Civil Service Commission.
According to the source, the prolonged stay of the retired permanent secretaries has created a bottleneck in the civil service hierarchy, preventing deserving officers from advancing to higher positions.
“We have senior directors who are qualified to be appointed as permanent secretaries, but because those who have since retired refuse to vacate office, these senior directors cannot move up,” the civil servant said.
“So, we have come to a conclusion that it is only a protest that will draw the attention of the state government and relevant authorities and force them to vacate the offices.
“One of them retired on December 11, 2024 and was given a one-year contract that expired on December 11, 2025, but he is still operating without any letter of extension for about six to seven months now.”
The source maintained that allowing retired officials to remain in office beyond their approved tenure undermines established civil service procedures and frustrates the aspirations of officers waiting for promotion and appointment.
The dispute comes months after Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, directed all permanent secretaries who had officially retired but were still serving in office to immediately prepare their handover notes.
Fubara, in February 2026, said the directive was necessary to create room for growth, succession and career advancement within the state civil service, adding that his administration would take decisive action regarding the status of the affected officials.
With the seven-day ultimatum now in place, attention is expected to shift to the state government and the affected permanent secretaries as workers await compliance with the directive or prepare to carry out their threatened protest.
