The Federal Government has directed that no civil servant without a valid performance appraisal record should be considered for promotion within the federal public service.
The directive was issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, in a circular addressed to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
According to the circular, the policy forms part of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening accountability, professionalism and efficiency in the public sector. The government said performance evaluation remains a critical tool for assessing competence, productivity and commitment to duty among public servants.
Walson-Jack emphasised that annual appraisal reports must be properly completed, documented and verified before any officer can be considered for promotion. She warned that promotions granted without the required appraisal records would be reviewed and could be reversed if found to have violated established procedures.
The Head of Service noted that the policy is designed to ensure that promotions are based on merit and measurable performance rather than routine advancement or personal influence. She added that public institutions must embrace a culture of accountability if the civil service is to meet the expectations of citizens.
She directed permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies to ensure strict compliance with the directive and to strengthen internal monitoring mechanisms.
Stakeholders in the public sector have welcomed the move, describing it as a positive step toward improving service delivery and restoring professionalism in government institutions.
Labour experts say effective implementation of the policy could motivate workers to improve performance while discouraging mediocrity and absenteeism.
The directive is part of broader public service reforms being implemented by the Federal Government to improve governance, productivity and transparency across MDAs.
