Posting, Transfer & Secondment

Posting, Transfer & Secondment

Quick Answer: Posting is an internal assignment within the same Ministry; Transfer is the permanent release of an officer to another scheduled service or class; Secondment is temporary release to another government, body, or international organisation, capped at 4 years total when at the officer's own request. Refusal of posting is misconduct.

The definitions are fixed by PSR Rule 020501 and the procedural rules run through Rules 020502 to 020506. The COMPRO examination exploits the slipperiness between these three terms, so the distinctions below must be memorised.

Defining the Three Movements

Posting Within a Ministry

Every officer must accept liability to be stationed wherever their presence is considered most useful (Rule 030428). Posting within a Ministry to a post outside the officer's professional cadre is prohibited (Rule 020506(ii)) - an accountant cannot simply be posted to fill a librarian's vacancy. Refusal to proceed on transfer or to accept posting is misconduct under Rule 030301(b), and seeking the influence of prominent persons to obtain a posting is also misconduct (Rule 030427).

Transfer of Service

By Grade Level (Rule 020502)

Conditions (Rule 020503-020506)

For senior posts (GL 07 and above), inter-departmental transfer requires:

• Prior FCSC approval.
• A minimum of 6 months served in the original department.
• An application to the Permanent Secretary stating reasons and qualifications, forwarded to the FCSC with a statement on the officer's performance and suitability.
• Confidential reports covering the last 3 years (or whole service if shorter).

The applicant must additionally (Rule 020506):

1. Be confirmed in their previous service, with qualifications and experience matching the Scheme of Service of the grade.
2. Not jeopardise the promotion prospects of serving officers in the receiving organisation.
3. Find a vacancy in the relevant grade and discipline.
4. Have served the stipulated minimum period on grade for promotion to an advertised post.

Transfer-on-promotion is only considered in response to an advertised post - a key COMPRO point.

Pensionability and Emoluments

Transfer of service preserves pensionability: the officer's pensionable service is treated as continuous. Under Rule 040103, an officer transferred from another government into the Federal Public Service draws the emolument attached to the new office from the day they assume duty.

Secondment

At the Officer's Own Request

• Initial period: maximum 2 years.
• Extension: by application, with approval of the appropriate Committees and the FCSC.
• Total period of secondment must not exceed 4 years.
• The benefiting organisation is responsible for the officer's personal emoluments during secondment.
• No notional promotion is granted; the officer must sit promotion examinations at designated centres (Rule 020706).

In the Public Interest

• No time limit - the officer continues to hold their substantive post.
• The officer is entitled to increment and promotion and is treated as having been posted on special duty.
• This is the key contrast with secondment at own request and is heavily tested.

Reporting on Seconded Officers

When an officer is seconded to another Ministry/Extra-Ministerial Office, the receiving Permanent Secretary furnishes the reports (Rules 050104-050105). For secondment to Corporations, States, or state-owned companies, the sending Ministry must request the report two months before the due date.

Resettlement Allowance (Rules 130132-130135)

Resettlement (formerly Disturbance) Allowance compensates out-of-pocket expenses of transfer:

• Rate: 2% of the officer's annual emolument.
• Not payable if the transfer is at the officer's own request (only transport allowance is paid).
• Covers transfer between stations during a tour, transfer on return from leave, and transfer/secondment from another government in the Federation.
• Officers posted/transfered to a station different from their city of domicile also get transport fare for self, spouse, and a maximum of four children, plus hotel accommodation for the first 28 days (or an allowance in lieu).

Foreign Service Posting (Foreign Service Regulations, Regulation 26)

Although not always examined in COMPRO, foreign posting rules mirror domestic principles:

• Normal tour abroad: 4 years, with government right of recall.
• Three months' notice before posting abroad or back home.
• Postings are timed to the school year (August/September) and consider duration at headquarters and prior geographical service.
• A Posting Committee of the most senior officers at Headquarters, appointed by the Permanent Secretary, conducts postings and must reflect Federal Character.

Quick Contrast Table