Aviation Ministry in disarray as permanent secretary allegedly refuses to retire

The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development is in disarray following the continued stay in office of the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ibrahim Kana, more than a month after his official retirement date.

Despite his retirement date passing, Kana’s status remains unclear and efforts to verify his documentation have been met with resistance.

According to Nigeria’s Federal Civil Service rules, the mandatory retirement age is 60 years or after 35 years of pensionable service, whichever comes first. These rules apply broadly across ministries, departments, and agencies.

Kana was appointed as a Permanent Secretary in June 2021, becoming the youngest member among the elite cadre of five within Nigeria’s Federal Civil Service at the time.

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By virtue of the rule, Kana should have either been granted a tenure extension or stepped out of office early in June. However, despite these stipulations, Kana has remained in office without any official documentation approving an extension, causing unease and growing murmuring within the ministry.

A senior official in the Ministry, who requested anonymity for fear of retribution, confirmed that Kana’s refusal to step down has become a major concern in the Ministry.

“His tenure has ended. By every rule, he should be out of office. But he’s still here, and last week he even locked the office for no reason,” the source said. “The law is clear, but its enforcement has been a persistent challenge in Nigeria. Until leadership decides to act, this kind of situation will keep undermining public service integrity”, he noted.

The situation has begun to tear the Ministry into two opposing parts, with some directors reportedly discontent with the situation but treading carefully to avoid reprimand.

A Group within the Ministry had planned to stage a protest, threatening to formally petition the minister over Kana’s refusal to vacate the office. However, the same Group abruptly went silent a week later, raising suspicions among staff.

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Sources close to the matter disclosed that Kana had been lobbying politically connected individuals to secure a tenure extension through the Office of the Head of Service. Kana’s tenure can only be renewed on the signature of the President, Bola Tinubu.

When contacted, Seyi Oduntan, the Deputy Director of Press at the Ministry, described the information as a rumor, saying the Permanent Secretary had only taken a casual leave having informed the Ministry before he left.

However, Kana contradicted this account, saying he was at work and describing the rumor peddlers as “jobless people.”

The controversy surrounding Kana’s continued stay in office raises questions about the rule of law and accountability in Government. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether the Ministry will take action to address the issue.