By Adnan Adams Mohammed
A high-level committee established by the Office of the Chief of Staff has concluded its investigation into the recruitment, appointments, and promotions made within the Public Service following the December 7 elections.
The review has resulted in the revocation of a total of 2,080 personnel actions deemed to have been executed outside of standard administrative protocols.
The committee was tasked with scrutinizing “last-minute” employment decisions to ensure they met the rigorous standards of the Public Service Commission and established institutional procedures.
The Committee’s Findings
The comprehensive audit categorized thousands of individual cases into three distinct outcomes based on their level of compliance with civil service regulations:
Revocations: A total of 2,080 individuals saw their recruitment, appointments, or promotions cancelled per the directive from the Chief of Staff.
Upheld Appointments: 1,201 appointments were officially upheld by the committee. These cases were found to have fully complied with due process and legitimate administrative requirements.
Procedural Failures: Of the total revocations, 541 specific appointments were nullified solely due to a documented failure to comply with established due process.
Ensuring Administrative Integrity
The directive from the Chief of Staff underscores the government’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the Public Service. By reviewing appointments made during the transition period, the committee aimed to prevent “midnight appointments”—a term often used to describe positions filled shortly before a potential change in administration without following competitive hiring practices.
The 1,201 individuals whose roles were upheld are expected to continue their duties without interruption, having been validated as legitimate hires. Conversely, the over 2,000 affected by the revocation must vacate their positions or see their recent promotions rolled back to previous statuses.
As of press time, the government has not indicated whether a new recruitment process will be opened to fill the vacancies created by these revocations.
