Court asked to determine legality of ‘tenure elongation’ for perm secs

A Federal High Court in Abuja has been asked to declare that President Muhammadu Buhari lacks the power to extend the term of office of seven permanent secretaries who were allegedly due for retirement.

The plaintiff in the suit, the Registered Trustees of Advocacy for Human Rights and Equal Opportunity, joined the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF), Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as defendants along with the president.

In an originating summons filed on its behalf by Barrister Danshitta Shittu, the group identified the ministries affected by the president’s directive to include Ministries of Interior; Women Affairs; Information and Culture; Agriculture and Rural Development; Foreign Affairs; Water Resources; and the Permanent Secretary in the General Services Office in the Office of the SGF.

The plaintiff is equally asking the court to declare that the act of the president, in extending the tenure of the seven permanent secretaries is ultravires, null and void, illegal and of no consequence.

It further asked the court to declare that all acts or functions performed by the seven permanent secretaries from the dates of their supposed respective retirement are illegal, null and void.

The plaintiff equally asked the court for an order restraining the seven permanent secretaries from performing any act or functions of their respective offices.

While the case has been assigned to the court presided over by Justice Folasade Giwa, a date for hearing has not yet been communicated to the parties.