The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has promoted 5,196 members of its staff nationwide.

The commission disclosed this in its daily bulletin issued by the publicity and voter education director, Adenike Tadese, on Thursday.

Ms Tadese said the promotion came on the heels of the 2023 promotion examination and evaluation carried out by the commission in furtherance of its commitment to the welfare and development of its staff.

A breakdown of the figure, according to Tadese, indicates that 55 deputy directors on Grade Level 16 were promoted to the rank of director on Grade Level 17. 

Fifty-four assistant directors on GL 15 were promoted to deputy director cadre on GL 16.

She added that INEC also promoted 338 officers on GL 14 to Assistant directors on GL 15 while the bulk of the promotion affected 4,749 officers between GL 7 and 13.

Meanwhile, four INEC directors have been directed to proceed on terminal leave.

According to the statement by the national commissioner and chairman of the information and voter education committee, Sam Olumekun, on Wednesday, the decision followed a directive from the federal government via a circular issued on July 27, 2023.

The directive mandated all directors with eight years or more of service to retire from the public sector.

Mr Olumekun said two directors proceeding on terminal leave served as heads of departments at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja. 

The other two were deployed as administrative secretaries in the state offices.

He, however, highlighted that clinical officers in the medical cadre were exempt from the federal government’s retirement policy “as clarified in circular MH 7205/T31” dated September 7.

(NAN)